Shekhawat files nomination papers for Prez polls

New Delhi, Jun 25: Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat today filed his nomination papers for the Presidential elections as an Independent, backed by the Opposition NDA, before Lok Sabha Secretary General and Returning Officer P D T Achary.

The Vice-President, who was accompanied by NDA chairman Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani and Chief Ministers of seven BJP-ruled states, filed two sets of papers.

The Chief Ministers of Punjab and Orissa, Parkash Singh Badal and Navin Patnaik respectively, were also with him when he filed the papers.

Former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, who was conspicuous by his presence, signed the papers.

Later, NDA Spokesperson Sushma Swaraj told newspersons that in all, 266 MPs and MLAs from different states in the country had signed the papers either as proposers or seconders for the July 19 Presidential polls. There was no representatives from the Shiv Sena as the party has said it would announce its nominee later today.

The Chief Ministers of BJP-NDA ruled states who were present included Mr Narendra Modi, Ms Vasundhara Raje, Mr Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Maj Gen Khanduri.

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, whose presence would have signified the support of the Janata Dal (Secular) which is a partner in the JD(S)-BJP coalition in the state, was absent, belying expectations.

However, state Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa of the BJP was present during the filing of papers. Panthers Party chief Bhim Singh was also present on the occasion.

Ms Swaraj said one more set of nomination papers could be filed which contained the signatures of Trinamool Congress MPs and MLAs as Rajya Sabha member Dinesh Trivedi could not arrive at the time of filing of papers.

UNI