No support to Shekhawat at any cost: RJD

New Delhi, June 10: Scotching media speculations that RJD supremo Lalu Prasad could vote for Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on account of his ''personal rapport'' with the probable ''independent candidate'' for the President's post, the party today categorically said it will not happen under any circumstances.

''We will go along with the UPA-left candidate, be it anybody, but not Mr Shekhawat.'' asserted Party Vice President Raghuvansh Pratap Singh at a press conference on the occasion of the Party National Executive.

His remark came in response to a query by mediapersons that Mr Shekhawat had garnered several opposition votes when he contested for the post of the vice president last time through cross-voting.

On the choice of the UPA candidate for the President's post in the wake of the Left's opposition to Shivraj Patil's name and their support for Mr Pranab Mukherjee, Mr Prasad quipped, ''Internal discussions are taking place on the issue.'' The RJD leader, however, refused to divulge the details saying ''Andruni baat ka bhed nahin kholenge (we cannot disclose internal developments).'' Mr Singh, who held the conference along with party Secretary General Ram Dev Bhandari, was asked whether Mr Prasad, who is said to enjoy good personal rapport with Mr Shekhawat would not support him.

Mr Singh, who also holds the portfolio of Rural Development, said the Party had high regards for BJP veterans Atal Bihari Vajpyaee and L K Advani, but it did not mean that they would support the party's candidate. ''The communal BJP is number one enemy party for us.'' The RJD leader also claimed that not even a single vote of the UPA would split even if Mr Shekhawat chose to contest as an independent candidate. ''We cannot support any candidate who is directly or indirectly sponsored by the BJP.'' On the other hand, referring to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's call for the consensus candidate, the RJD leader said the NDA should also support the PM's initative in this regard.

Mr Singh said, in an obvious reference to the UPA and the Left leaders repeated calls to the NDA, it should now support the UPA candidate as the Congress extended its support to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam last time.

UNI

Related Stories