Shekhawat files papers, Shiv Sena announces will back Pratibha

New Delhi, June 25 (UNI) Mr Bhairon Singh Shekhawat today filed his nomination for the July 19 Presidential poll as an Independent backed by the NDA but the Shiv Sena, a major contituent of the BJP-led NDA, gave a set back to its campaign for the coveted post by deciding to support UPA nominee Pratibha Patil.

In a statement issued in Mumbai tonight, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray said the party has decided to support Ms Patil as she will be the first Maharashtrian to reach the coveted post and also the first woman to become the President.

''In 2010, the state will complete 50 years of its formation and at that time there will be a Maharashtrian woman to salute the 105 martyrs, who laid down their lives to carve a separate state of Maharashtra, along with Mumbai,'' he said, and criticised Mr Shekhawat for contesting as an independent to get the votes from other parties.

The Sena, which has 56 MLAs and 15 MPs in Lok Sabha and three MPs in Rajya sabha, all adding upto 22,000 votes, will be supporting a 'Marathi Manoos' Ms Patil.

This development could be likely to jeopardise the 23 year old Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in Maharashtra, which has so far contested seven Lok Sabha and four assembly elections together and even shared power in the state and at the centre.

Five sets of nominations were received here for the July 19 Presidential poll, taking the total number to 21 so far.

A confident-looking Mr Shekhawat handed over two sets of papers to Lok Sabha Secretary-General PDT Achary, who is the Returning Officer for the poll, at 1130 hrs. The papers carried 266 signatures--128 of MPs and 138 of MLAs.

He was accompanied by x x x x Eds: Picking up from para four of DI 60 'POLITICS LEAD PRESIDENT' UNI