Click to play videoNew Delhi: Pratibha Patil, the UPA’s candidate for the Presidential election, faces a worthy contestant: Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
Shekhawat, an Independent candidate, will get the support of NDA. Patil, whose husband hails from Rajasthan like the Vice-President, has the numbers on her side but the fight is not over.
The NDA refused the Congress’ appeal to support Patil because it believes the ruling alliance never consulted it about her. "More than the country and the constitution. The UPA has chosen a candidate for her loyalty to (Congress chairperson) Sonia Gandhi,” says BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
Shekhwat is banking on his personal rapport with politicians across the spectrum to boost his prospects. This is how the numbers are stacked up for him.
In an electoral college of 10,98,882 votes, Shekhwat is assured of 3,54,689 votes of the NDA and some other partie..
He also hopes to get the majority of the Third-Front votes, which will from SP, AIADMAK, RLD, AGP, MDMK and the TDP.
Even if he gets all these votes Shekhawat can only get to 4,60,970 votes. He will therefore target around 80 MLAs from UP, who have been elected on different party tickets but have close relations with him. They could add up to another 16000 votes, thus making things difficult for the UPA candidate.
No wonder the Congress is sore with the NDA for not supporting Patil. “The BJP lacks the grace to come forward to support an eminent person as a consensus candidate, particularly given the fact that apart from her eminent stature she is a woman,” said Congress leader Jayanti Natrajan.
Shekhawat has nothing to lose and by wants to prove that he is better candidate.
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