BJP alleges UPA wheeling and dealing on the presidential candidate

Jaipur, May 26 (UNI) Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today alleged that the Congress was wheeling and dealing with the allies on the presidential candidate rather than working to evolve a general consensus.

Addressing a press conference here, the party's national vice president said, ''It is unfortunate that the Congress party led UPA is busy in wheeling and dealing with its allies instead of evoling a general national consensus on the presidential candidate.'' He said the nominee to the highest constitutional post should be decided on the basis of a national consensus but the Congress is engaged in the ''dirty game'' of deals and compromise(Sauda aur Samjhauta) with its allies to get its candidate elected, he charged.

When asked whether Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat will be the NDA candidate, he said the Vice-President was the ''natural choice'' for the top post and the BJP is keeping all options open.

He said being the ruling party it is incumbent upon the Congress to take the initiative in evolving a consensus but the party has not taken the opposition into confidence. He said during the NDA regime Dr Abdul Kalam was elected by a national consensus.

UNI