Finance minister and the government’s most reliable troubleshooter, Pranab Mukherjee today said he’s deeply honoured by his nomination for the President’s post, and requested all political parties for support.

“I am deeply honoured by the nomination as candidate for the Presidential poll, I accept it with all humility,” said Pranab.

Mukherjee was Friday named the United Progessive Alliance’s (UPA) candidate for President and found backing from several parties including the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

“There is broad support for his candidature,” Gandhi said after the UPA meeting at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s 7, Race Course Road residence.

“The leaders of the UPA constituents met today. It was decided to propose Mukherjee as the candidate for the office of the president of India,” she said, reading the statement.

On being asked who will be the next finaice minister, Pranab said Prime Minister and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will decide who will it be.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday telephoned the leaders of all major political parties and sought their support for Pranab Mukherjee’s candidature for president, an official from the Prime Minister’s Office told IANS.

The prime minister made the calls soon after Congress president Sonia Gandhi announced Pranab Mukherjee as the Congress’ presidential candidate.

“He called leaders of all parliamentary parties,” the official said.

Leaders of Opposition in both houses Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, BJP veteran L.K. Advani, Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury, Communist Party of India leader A.B. Bardhan, Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati were among the leaders Manmohan Singh telephoned.