06-26-2007, 03:11 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Shekhawat joins battle </b>
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi
Natwar Singh, Bhim Singh among proposers
Unfazed by rival claims about numbers being heavily loaded against him, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on Monday filed his nomination papers for the presidential election as an independent candidate. Â
The election, due on July 19, is likely to see a direct contest between him and UPA nominee Pratibha Patil.
A veteran of many a poll battle, Shekhawat was accompanied by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Leader of the Opposotion LK Advani, NDA convener George Fernandes, BJP president Rajnath Singh and leaders of all NDA allies, except the Shiv Sena and Trinamool Congress.
Apart from the Chief Ministers of the BJP-ruled States, Akali Dal chief and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Biju Janata Dal chief and Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik were present at the time of filing of the nomination.
<b>The presence of former External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh and Panthers Party of India president Bhim Singh on the occasion was symbolic as the Vice-President and his backers are relying on support from his "friends" across the political spectrum,</b> NDA sources said.
Later talking to mediapersons, Shekhawat rejected suggestions that on the basis of respective party strength, numbers were staked against him.
"I am fighting to win. I will say that everybody gives me support and the numbers are in my favour," he said. However, he declined to discuss his strategy, insisting that "The arithmetic till now shows that I will win."
<b>NDA spokesperson for presidential election Sushma Swaraj likened the tussle to the historic battle in 1969 in which independent VV Giri trounced official Congress nominee Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy - a comparison dismissed by Congress.</b>
She played down the decision of NDA ally Shiv Sena to support Pratibha Patil. "I have repeatedly said that presidential election is not a contest of the strength of respective parties but a contest of two personalities. Some of the NDA allies may vote against him. By the same logic, those in the UPA or the UNPA may vote for him," she argued.
Clearing the doubts about the Trinamool Congress, which has been evasive so far on the issue of support, Swaraj said <b>Trinamool Congress MP Dinesh Trivedi could not make it as his plane was late.</b>
<b>Sushma sought to make the best of Natwar Singh's presence, saying that it was not a token appearance. "It will send a strong message," she said, indicating that the former External Affairs Minister's support would attract votes from the Congress.</b>
She replied in the negative when asked if there was any communication from the Third Front, which has decided to maintain equidistance from the UPA and the NDA.
<b>Natwar Singh, who was one of the proposers, said "Shekhawat was a very good Vice-President and he can be an outstanding President."</b>
Asked about the prospects of Shekhawat, NDA chairperson Atal Bihari Vajpayee said, "We have just jumped into the fray."
<b>As Shekhawat reached the office of the Returning Officer, slogans Jai Shri Ram, Ganapati Bappa Morya and Hindustan ka ek hi Singh, Bhairon Singh, Bhairon Singh rent the air.</b> Sweets were also distributed by enthusiastic NDA supporters. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Pioneer News Service | New Delhi
Natwar Singh, Bhim Singh among proposers
Unfazed by rival claims about numbers being heavily loaded against him, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on Monday filed his nomination papers for the presidential election as an independent candidate. Â
The election, due on July 19, is likely to see a direct contest between him and UPA nominee Pratibha Patil.
A veteran of many a poll battle, Shekhawat was accompanied by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Leader of the Opposotion LK Advani, NDA convener George Fernandes, BJP president Rajnath Singh and leaders of all NDA allies, except the Shiv Sena and Trinamool Congress.
Apart from the Chief Ministers of the BJP-ruled States, Akali Dal chief and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Biju Janata Dal chief and Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik were present at the time of filing of the nomination.
<b>The presence of former External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh and Panthers Party of India president Bhim Singh on the occasion was symbolic as the Vice-President and his backers are relying on support from his "friends" across the political spectrum,</b> NDA sources said.
Later talking to mediapersons, Shekhawat rejected suggestions that on the basis of respective party strength, numbers were staked against him.
"I am fighting to win. I will say that everybody gives me support and the numbers are in my favour," he said. However, he declined to discuss his strategy, insisting that "The arithmetic till now shows that I will win."
<b>NDA spokesperson for presidential election Sushma Swaraj likened the tussle to the historic battle in 1969 in which independent VV Giri trounced official Congress nominee Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy - a comparison dismissed by Congress.</b>
She played down the decision of NDA ally Shiv Sena to support Pratibha Patil. "I have repeatedly said that presidential election is not a contest of the strength of respective parties but a contest of two personalities. Some of the NDA allies may vote against him. By the same logic, those in the UPA or the UNPA may vote for him," she argued.
Clearing the doubts about the Trinamool Congress, which has been evasive so far on the issue of support, Swaraj said <b>Trinamool Congress MP Dinesh Trivedi could not make it as his plane was late.</b>
<b>Sushma sought to make the best of Natwar Singh's presence, saying that it was not a token appearance. "It will send a strong message," she said, indicating that the former External Affairs Minister's support would attract votes from the Congress.</b>
She replied in the negative when asked if there was any communication from the Third Front, which has decided to maintain equidistance from the UPA and the NDA.
<b>Natwar Singh, who was one of the proposers, said "Shekhawat was a very good Vice-President and he can be an outstanding President."</b>
Asked about the prospects of Shekhawat, NDA chairperson Atal Bihari Vajpayee said, "We have just jumped into the fray."
<b>As Shekhawat reached the office of the Returning Officer, slogans Jai Shri Ram, Ganapati Bappa Morya and Hindustan ka ek hi Singh, Bhairon Singh, Bhairon Singh rent the air.</b> Sweets were also distributed by enthusiastic NDA supporters. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->