Preparations for President poll in Rajasthan done.

Jaipur, July 18(UNI) The ruling BJP and opposition Congress leadership remained occupied in making last minute efforts to keep intact their respective flocks in the presidential poll tomorrow while the administrative machinery was busy in giving final touch to the poll arrangements.

A group of ministers held a brief meeting with Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and the BJP leadership to review preparedness for the presidential poll tomorrow. Besides this, individual contact with all the MLAs was also being undertaken.

BJP General Secretaries Gopinath Munde and Om Prakash Mathur are camping in the state capital to supervise the poll related organisational activities.

All the ruling party MLAs have been asked to reach the assembly lobby at 0915 Hrs tomorrow, 45 minutes ahead of the start of polling, and to report to he Chief Minister and state president Dr Mahesh Chand Sharma.

The Congress leadership was also busy in rounds of discussions to consolidate and guard its votes and avert the possibility of cross voting for the NDA-backed candidate. Party state president BD Kalla, state incharge AICC secretary KV Krishnamurthy and party state observer for presidential polls Paban Singh Ghatowar participated in the meetings.

The party has opted for dinner politics to hold collective informal interaction with the party MLAs. Dinner meetings for Congress and supporting Independent MLAS are being held everyday since Monday.

If party strength is any indicator, the ruling BJP has a clear edge over its rival in the electoral college in the state.

A BJP spokesman claimed that NDA supported Independent Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat will secure a huge lead from Rajasthan in the election.

The party was expecting to muster vote from over 135 of the 200 MLAs of the state.

BJP had won 122 seats in the 200-member in the State Assembly.

Of these, one Surendra Singh stands expelled from the party.

The ruling party is also banking on the support from three members of Indian National Lok Dal, two members of the JD(U), one Samajik Nyaya Manch MLA and eight of the 13 Independents.

Among MPs, the BJP at present has 21 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats from the state and six of the 10 Rajya Sabha seats.

Contrary to this, Congress is claiming support of 63 MLAs for UPA nominee Pratibha Patil. Among these, party have 54 (one Jagat Singh, son of former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, stands expelled from the party) of its own MLAs and banking on support from two BSP members, one CPI (M) and LJP each member and five of 13 Independents.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission machinery has made all arrangements for smooth polling at the designated polling booth in state assembly complex here tomorrow.

Ballot box, as ballot papers and an authenticated copy of voter's list had already reached here for the polling. Election Commission Observer EK Bharatbhushan has also arrived here to supervise poll process.

UNI