BJP refused to support Congress candidate for President?s post

June 11: Consensus, between ruling United Progressive alliance and opposition parties, over the presidential candidate seems to be bleak.

The picture became clear today when the opposition Bharatiya Janta party BJP, ruled out the possibility of supporting UPA candidate for the post of president.

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After Congress was likely to consult opposition parties, BJP made the salvo by pointing out that they are not in favour of UPA candidate. They are expected to support Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who might contest as independent candidate. Many regional parties with considerable clout in the centre gave indications about their preference of Shekhawat for the post of first citizen of the country.

The optimism shown by Congress spokesman Satyavrat Chaturvedi found no takers in BJP.

"We are open in this regard," Satyavrat Chaturvedi reportedly told media when asked whether the Congress would hold consultations with the BJP-led NDA regarding Presidential elections. His remarks came after Congress held talks with UPA allies, outside supporters and like minded parties.

While alleging that the Prime Minister has used the media to ‘instruct’ the NDA to back the nominee of the ruling alliance, party Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi ruled out any support to the UPA candidate for the coveted post.

Refusing to draw a parallel between the elections of APJ Abdul Kalam, who was nominated by BJP led National Democratic Alliance and the present move by Congress led UPA in the upcoming elections for the inhabitant of Rashtrapati Bhawan, Naqvi said, “The situation is completely different. During the NDA rule, we held thorough discussions with the then opposition on our choice of the candidate for Presidency unlike today when the Congress has not bothered at all to consult us on who should be the next President."

BJP is believed to have made up its mind to support Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat as an independent candidate for presidential election while as UPA seem to be zeroing on home minister Shivraj patil for the presidential post.

"His move is rather unfortunate," Naqvi said.