Presidential elections: BJP denies rift in NDA

New Delhi, May 1: The BJP today denied reports of a rift with its NDA allies, especially the Janata Dal (United), over the presidential elections.
The BJP has said it would not support any Congress candidate for the post of President.
“We will not accept any Congress candidate, including Pranab Mukherjee, for the President’s post,” Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj has said.
The party has been saying that it would support someone like former President A P J Abdul Kalam if his candidature was endorsed by the ‘larger opposition’ including other non-Congress parties also.
BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain today said there has not been any discussion in the BJP and NDA over the presidential candidate.
“It is too early to say something on any candidate.
Discussion is to be held in the BJP and NDA and also with other parties,” Mr Hussain told reporters.
He denied that Ms Swaraj had given any statement that Vice-President Hamid Ansari ‘lacks stature’ for the presidential elections.
‘She did not say anything like this,’ Mr Hussain claimed adding that there will be no deal with the Congress over the presidential elections.
JD(U), the BJP’s major NDA partner, has taken a different stand from the saffron party over the issue.
JD(U) president and NDA convenor Sharad Yadav said there had been no discussion on the presidential candidate in the BJP-led alliance.
Both the Congress and BJP lack the needed numbers to push through their candidates in the electoral college and they would need the support of regional parties who will play a vital part in the presidential election. (UNI)