Shourie in Asom for presidential polls

Guwahati, July 10 (UNI) BJP leader Arun Shourie today arrived here to rally support for NDA-supported presidential candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

Mr Shourie met the state Assembly and Parliament members of the BJP in the party headquarters in the city. He held an hour-long discussion with the elected representatives, state BJP spokesperson Chandan Sharma informed.

The BJP has ten members in the state Assembly and two in Parliament.

The BJP and its NDA allies are supporting Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat for the top post, who is pitted against the Congress nominee Pratibha Patil in a face-to-face battle.

Though the BJP is not into alliance with any party in the state, Mr Shourie could hold talks with leaders of the other Opposition parties.

The spokesperson said a final decision on whether to meet other parties during Mr Shourie's current visit would be taken later in the evening.

The BJP leader would also address a function in the evening and take part in a discussion on his book on presidential election.

Meanwhile, the Congress candidate is scheduled to arrive in Guwahati for campaigning among the North East elected representatives of the Congress and its allies on July 14.

Ms Patil is likely to address the MLAs and MPs of the NE states, except Tripura, at a meeting in the city. She would fly to Tripura the next day.

UNI