Shekhawat files papers for Prez poll

Unfazed by the numbers against him, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat today filed his nomination papers as the NDA-backed Independent candidate in the Presidential election for probably a straight fight with UPA-Left nominee Pratibha Patil.

Shekhawat handed over two sets of nomination papers to Returning Officer and Lok Sabha Secretary General P D T Achary at the Parliament House here.

Leaders of the opposition NDA including former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, NDA convenor George Fernandes, senior BJP leaders L K Advani, Rajnath Singh, Janata Dal (U) chief Sharad Yadav, Akali Dal chief Parkash Singh Badal and Biju Janata Dal chief Naveen Patnaik were present at the time of filing of the nomination.