BJP drums up support for Shekhawat

New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) As the race for Presidential polls gains momentum, the BJP today started consulting non-NDA leaders in its effort to drum up support for Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat for the Presidentship.

BJP sources said BJP President Rajnath Singh accompanied by party Vice-President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi met former Prime Ministers Viswanath Pratap Singh and Chandrashekhar to discuss the issue.

The process began after the NDA leaders authorised former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to consult political parties for the placement of an NDA supported President at the Rasthrapati Bhavan.

The two BJP leaders called on Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh in his hospital room today. Mr Naqvi, the BJP's pointsman with the Bahujan Samaj Party, would also take up the issue with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati in the next two days, the sources said.

The party sources also exuded confidence that the NDA would be able to achieve victory with the support of the alliance's former partners and parties.

About the possibility of Mr Vajpayee emerging as the Presidential candidate, the sources said it was a proposal mooted by Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee. And ''it lies with it.'', they added.

On the record, the UPA enjoys the vote value of 52,0102 with the NDA not far behind. This being the case, the Samajwadi Party and the BSP together can tilt the Presidential balance in one way or the other.

UNI