Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee chaired the meeting of the top leaders of the National Demoratic Alliance at his residence at 6A Krishnamenon Marg and and conveyed his decision to back Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhwat as an independent candidate in the forthcoming Presidential poll.
Among those who attended the meeting included George Fernanades, convenor of NDA, former president of BJP Lal Kishenchand Advani, Jaswant Singh, Vijay Kumar Malhotra and leaders of the other NDA constitutents. Sushma Swaraj was appointed spokesperson on behalf of the party till the presidential polls were over.
"It is our unanimous view that the most qualified and suitable candidate for this high office is only Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat," a press handout issued at the end of the meeting mentioned.
Vajpayee lauded the public service and rare qualities of the head and heart of Shekhawat and referred to him as "a public figure of eminence, high repute and unmatched credentials. Shri Bhairon Singh Shhekhawat has discharged his latest responsibilities as the country's vice president and chairman of Rajya Sabha, entirely beyond party affiliations and with impeccable secular credentials," he said in his statement.
"In the light of this, the NDA wholeheartedly supports Bhairon Singh Shekhawat as an independent candidate for the highest office of President of India and his victory is definite," the press handout said.
But the Shiv Sena's representative and former speaker of Lok Sabha Manohar Joshi put a spanner in the works by saying that his party chief Balasaheb Thackeray will announce his decision on Tuesday.
Earlier, on being asked where the numbers would come from, particuarly when the Third Front is likely to announce its own candidate for the post in Chennai by convenor Jayalalithaa, a senior BJP leader said there is always a second choice in the presidential poll.
"The numbers game favours Pratibha Patil Shekhawat. We have already done the calculations and anything over and above that number would be a bonus. Bhairon Singh has no chance," a senior leader of Congress, who is associated with the media realations, told rediff.com.
On contacting Speaker Somnath Chatterjee's office, whose name was also in circulation as the Left candidate for the highest civilian post in the land, this correspondent was informed that the speaker was indisposed and would not be able to come on the line.
"Pratibha Patil came to see him on Sunday and he wished her well. You would appreciate that since he is holding the post of the speaker of Lok Sabha, it would not be proper for him to comment on individual candidates in the fray," a senior official attached to the speaker said over phone.
Vajpayee was authorised in the last meeting to take a final decision on the candidate for NDA.