No rift in NDA, says Sharad Yadav

New Delhi, June 23 (ANI): Janata Dal-United (JD-U) chief Sharad Yadav on Saturday downplayed reports of a rift within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), saying his party's support to UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee in the race for Raisina Hill would not affect the relations with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"The constitutional post of the President is such that this is not a regular election, and hence we have taken this step. Within the NDA, we have nicely agreed to disagree. The NDA is intact," he said.

Yadav further advised his party spokespersons to consult him before issuing statements to the media, in order to avoid any controversy.

"Considering the statements made yesterday, I would appeal that such statements should not be made without consulting me. If it is an issue related to Bihar, Nitish Kumar must be consulted. What I said the day before yesterday is the official political view of the party," he said.

JD-U leader Shivanand Tiwari had spoken critically of the BJP on Friday, and slammed the latter's approach of accusing just the present government for inflation and price rise of essential commodities.

The JD-U called a meeting of its spokespersons in Patna and made them aware about the directive of the party.

"I don't know how you form such perceptions. Political logic and argument should not always be seen as a rift. Positive things can come out of it," said JD-U spokesperson Vashisht Narayan Singh in Patna.

The BJP has decided to back former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma for the president's post.

The presidential elections will be held on July 19. The vote count will take place on July 22.

Pratibha Devisingh Patil's term as President ends on July 24.(ANI)