NDA MPs to stay put in Delhi from July 17 for Presidential poll

New Delhi, July 2 (UNI) All the BJP MPs and MLAs have been asked to stay in Delhi from July 17 till they cast their vote in favour of Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in July 19 Presidential election.

Briefing newspersons, NDA spokesman Sushma Swaraj said that a meeting of NDA Parliamentary Party, comprising MPs belonging to BJP and other NDA constituents except the Shiv Sena, would be held in Delhi on July 17.

The leaders would be informed that they could go back to their constituencies or states only after casting votes on July 19.

Besides, she said it had been decided to form election Management Committees in all the states by July 10 with the state President, central incharge of state, leader of the Vidhan Sabha, chief whip and all other whips as their members.

In addition it would also have two MPs each.

To begin with, she said the state management committees for Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have been set up. A senior leader each has been deputed to address legislature meetings of these states -- Mr L K Advani (Madhya Pradesh on July 10), Dr Murli Manohar Joshi (Uttar Pradesh on July 9), Mr M Venkaiah Naidu (Karnataka on July 7), Mr Ravi Shanker Prasad (Uttranchal on July 7) and herself (Rajasthan on July 4), she added.

Date for such meetings for other states would also be fixed after confirmation from the respective state units, she informed.

In reply to questions, she denied that the inclusion of whips in committees meant to put pressure on their MPs and MLAs to cast votes in favour of Mr Shekhawat. She said they could easily establish contacts with the party's MLAs, MLCs, and MPs. Under the constitution, no whip can be issued in this election, she said.

She also admitted that the NDA was still hopeful that the Third Front which had come into being as an ''anti-Congress'' grouping would support Mr Shekhawat. By doing so only, it would able to achieve its objective, she said.

Asked if the NDA was trying to woo MPs, MLAs and MLCs of other parties, including that of Shiv Sena or even those belonging to UPA and Left, Ms Swaraj said it would be done only through one-on-one contact.

Justifying Mr Advani's letter to the Election Commission to seek declaration from Presidential candidates about cases or dues pending against them, she said they were waiting for the EC's response.

She refused to draw a parallel between Ms Patil and Mr Shekhawat when asked why the the latter should not resign from Vice-Presidentship as Ms Patil had done by quitting as Governor of Rajasthan. ''Her resignation does not put any moral pressure on the Vice-President to resign,'' she added.

UNI