Pranab in Mumbai, to meet Thackeray

Mumbai: As part of his tour of states ahead of the Presidential poll, UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee will meet Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray here today to thank him for backing his candidature.

While there is no word from the Congress yet on the meeting, Sena mouthpiece `Saamana` today said Mukherjee will be meeting Thackeray at his residence `Matoshree` in suburban Bandra tonight.

"There is a tremendous anxiety" about the two leaders` meeting," the Marathi newspaper said, adding that NCP chief and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar will be present at the meeting. Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray would also attend the meeting, party sources said.

Mukherjee will be here as a part of his campaign for presidential poll and is expected to meet Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and legislators of the ruling Congress-NCP led Democratic Front government in the state, in south Mumbai this evening.

Thackeray has declared his party`s support to Mukherjee after breaking ranks with BJP, which is backing P A Sangma. Sangma had visited the city as part of his campaign last week.