New Delhi, June 12, 2007 - Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has declared to support the UPA candidate for the President. The announcement comes a day after her meeting with Congress chief and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi over dinner.

Speaking to reporters, Mayawati said she and Sonia were in agreement over one name, which will be announced shortly.

Sources have told NDTV that the two leaders did discuss Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil's name on Monday.

Support crucial

Mayawati's support is crucial for the UPA in the coming presidential elections for the following reasons:

•  The President is elected by an electoral college comprising elected members of both Houses of Parliament and State Assemblies.

•  Voting takes place by secret ballot.

•  Greater weightage to votes cast by legislators, which is why Mayawati's 206 MLAs in the UP Assembly become crucial legislators from larger states.

•  Votes cast are calculated by dividing a state's population by 1000, which is divided by the number of MLAs from the state.

•  The total votes cast by all MLAs is divided by the number of members of both Houses of Parliament to calculate the votes cast by MPs.

•  The President is elected for a five-year term.