SP support brightens Shekhawat's chances for president

Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, likely to be the NDA candidate for presidential polls, is in the reckoning despite the BJP's poor show in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Amar Singh is learnt to have conveyed his party's support to Shekhawat to the Left leaders today. "Amar Singh says he has given word to Shekhawat. What can we do about it?" said a senior Left leader.

CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat visited the ailing SP leader in a Delhi hospital but his attempts to dissuade Singh proved unsuccessful, said Left sources.

In terms of numbers in the electoral college, the SP and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) command almost equal strength. While the Congress was counting on the BSP's support, the SP's move could upset its plan.

More so because of the uncertainty about the NCP, whose support the Shekhawat camp has been claiming. The vice-president's popularity across party lines is another cause for concern for the Congress.

Meanwhile, the four Left parties today discussed three names""Pranab Mukherjee, Sushil Kumar Shinde and Dr Karan Singh""suggested by the Congress. According to sources in the meeting, Mukherjee is likely to get the Left's backing.