Though the numbers are stacked highly against Singh and UPA candidate Hamid Ansari is virtually set to get a second term as Vice President, BJP is making all efforts to put up a respectable contest. Other than NDA partners, BJP is trying to reach out to non-Congress parties, nominated and Independent MPs.
"Jaswant Singh is likely to go to Chennai on August 6 to meet Jayalalithaa and seek AIADMK support for his candidature," a BJP leader said.
Since BJP had supported P A Sangma, the Presidential candidate backed by AIADMK and BJD, NDA is hopeful that these two regional parties will do a quid pro quo for Singh.
BJP-led NDA is also banking on parties like TDP which may abstain. In such a scenario, the victory margin would be considerably reduced.
"Some of our leaders are also in touch with Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee to explore the possibilities of her support for Singh," the BJP leader said.
NDA leaders involved in the election campaign of Jaswant Singh hold a meeting almost every evening at the residence of the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj to plan out the strategy. Swaraj chairs these meetings which is attended by S S Ahluwalia, Ananth Kumar, Shahnawaz Hussain and others.
