New Delhi, June 5: Congress president Sonia Gandhi today met alliance partner Ajit Singh to discuss the presidential election.

Sources said no names were mentioned, but this signals that Sonia has begun the second round of consultations before deciding the candidate.

Congress sources reveal that Sonia could go abroad for a medical check-up later this month and would like to complete the consultation process before that.

The names of candidates will be revealed only after the election notification is issued next week, probably by June 15-16. The election will take place a month later as the process has to be completed before July 24 when President Pratibha Patil retires.

Sonia will meet leaders of UPA allies with specific names before approaching the BJP and other NDA parties. Sources say her aides have begun back-channel negotiations to explore the minds of senior leaders from different parties, particularly those who could play a role in ensuring the victory of the Congress candidate.

Senior leaders say the CWC resolution authorising Sonia to finalise the names for President and Vice-President clearly mentions “party candidates”, so there is little chance of the posts going to outsiders.