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Support poured for UPA presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee over “tava fish and lakhnavi jalebi” and many other mouth-watering delicacies of “Awadh” cuisine, at the lunch hosted by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav at his official residence here on Tuesday.

SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav was present at the lunch along with all the SP MLAs and ministers. The legislators from the Congress, Peace Party and other smaller outfits were also there to show their support to Mukherjee.

The bonhomie was clearly visible during the luncheon meeting. Mulayam, Akhilesh and others received Mukherjee warmly upon his arrival at the chief minister’s official residence.

While he sought support from the MLAs and MPs, Mukherjee said that the role of UP was crucial in the presidential elections. “The value of votes of UP MPs and MLAs is the biggest”, he said. Of the total around 11 lakh votes, the value of votes from UP was around two lakh, he added.

If the lunch was lavish, the dinner hosted by the BSP supremo and former UP chief minister Mayawati is also likely to be no less special. All the BSP MPs and MLAs would be present at the dinner, according to the BSP leaders here. Earlier, Mukherjee arrived at the Lucknow airport to a warm welcome. Hundreds of Congress workers and senior party leaders cheered Mukherjee as he walked out of the airport.

The UPA presidential candidate also met Congress MLAs and the legislators of the Rashtriya Lok Dal later in the day to solicit their support for his candidature.

Mukherjee has been visiting different states and meeting the leaders of different political parties to solicit their support for his bid to the post of the President. Both SP and BSP have already announced their support for Mukherjee.

Two jailed UP MLAs assure support

Samajwadi Party (SP) legislator Vijay Mishra, who’s currently in jail in connection with an attempt to murder case, and mafia don and Quami Ekta Dal MLA Mukhtar Ansari, also in jail, have assured their support to the UPA presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee, reports DHNS from Lucknow.

The duo  were present during the lunch party organised by UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav here on Tuesday.