"We are happy with the presidential candidate, who is now pride of Bengal. We had from the very beginning said we'll support whatever Sonia-ji says," Lalu Prasad told reporters here.

After days of nail-biting suspense, Mukherjee was chosen as the UPA candidate for the presidency and Congress and UPA chief Sonia Gandhi made the formal announcement in this regard after a meeting of her party and its allies.

Gandhi said Mukherjee had to his credit a "long and distinguished record of public service for five decades" and he enjoyed broad support for holding the country's top post.

The UPA also appealed to all political parties, MPs and members of state assemblies to extend support for the candidature of Mukherjee.