NDA to decide Presidential nominee tomorrow

New Delhi, June 12 (UNI) Leaders of the National Democratic Alliance will meet tomorrow to finalise its nominee for next month's Presidential Election.

BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar, making the announcement at the party's regular briefing, however, refused to either confirm or deny that NDA would be endorsing the candidature of Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who will most likely be filing his nomination as an Independent.

"We will answer your all questions only tomorrow after the meeting," he quipped.

In its last meeting, the NDA had authorised its chairman and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to talk to various political groupings to arrive at a consensus on the Presidential nominee issue.

Asked to react on BSP supremo and UP Chief Minister Mayawati's announcement that her party would be supporting the UPA candidate, Mr Javadekar said all parties had freedom to take their own decision on the issue.

He also refused to comment on Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray's statement that his party would support the candidature of Home Minister Shivraj Patil as he was a Maratha.

"I will only say Shiv Sena will be attending tomorrow's meeting to be held at Mr Vajpayee's residence in the evening and NDA will announce its decision," he said.

UNI