NDA making efforts for Shekhawat to be President

New Delhi, May 20: The opposition NDA is making all efforts to make Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat a ''common independent candidate'' in the coming Presidential polls, sources involved in laisioning with NDA and non-NDA parties said.

The chances of the Vice-President emerging successful for NDA and non-NDA parties were bright considering Mr Shekhawat's personal rapport with smaller parties in his capacity as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Also, electoral arithmetics will not be a consideration in the presidential polls because the elections are through secret ballot and whips of various political parties will not work.

Mr Shekhawat also enjoys maximum goodwill of the individual MPs and MLAs across the partyline.

The BJP had engaged Bahujan Samaj Party and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati in deliberations over the issue. She has, however, preferred to keep her options open so far.

''I can say one thing that she is not negatively disposed to the idea,'' BJP sources told UNI.

UNI

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