Shekhawat calls on Vajpayee

New Delhi, June 18 (UNI) Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat tonight called on former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for a dinner meeting here at the latter's residence.

The meeting assumed significance as it came hours after Mr Shekhawat issuing a statement giving a broad hint that he may withdraw from the race to the Presidency if a consensus builds around the name of present incumbent Dr A P J Abdul Kalam.

Informed sources, however, described the meeting as a ''routine dinner meeting'' between the two leaders. Mr Vajpayee was desiring Mr Shekhawat to partake dinner with him for the last couple of days and the Vice-President had just honoured Mr Vajpayee's request, they said.

Nothing more should be read into the meeting, they asserted.

Sources clarified that Mr Shekhawat was very much in the race for Presidency unless a broad consensus was reached over a second term for Dr Kalam.

UNI