Prez polls: Rajasthan MLAs meet Shekhawat, pledge support

Jaipur, Jun 22 (UNI) Nearly 120 MLAs from the ruling BJP and its allies today met Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and pledged their support to his candidature in the July 19 Presidential polls.

The MLAs, who assembled at Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's official residence here to participate in the BJP's Legislature Party meeting, marched to the residence of Mr Shekhawat, who arrived here today on a brief visit.

Earlier, the legislature party prepared a set of nomination papers in favour of Mr Shekhawat. The MLAs, which included some independents, signed his nomination papers.

The Chief Minister, Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Sumitra Singh and Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria were prominent among those who signed the nomination papers as proposers.

The set of the nomination papers was later sent to the BJP head office through a central observer.

Ms Raje said Rajasthan was thrilled over the possibility of Mr Shekhawat's candidature in the Presidential election and he had the support of every member of the ruling party in the state.

Thanking the MLAs, Mr Shekhawat said that he could not speak to them over the issue at the moment but hoped that their wishes turned true.

UNI