In an apparent move to secure support for Bhairon Singh Shekhawat from non-National Democratic Alliance parties in the presidential elections, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushma Swaraj has declared that the vice-president will not be an official candidate of the opposition alliance, but can enter the fray as an independent.

"He can only contest as an independent, supported by the NDA, but not as our official nominee," a CNN-IBN release quoted her as saying in an interview in which she conceded that the numbers were stacked against the NDA in a direct contest with the UPA.

She maintained that Shekhawat would be able to win greater support if he contested the presidential elections as a candidate outside of the BJP-led NDA.

"I know that the UPA has more votes than the NDA. That is why if Shekhawat contests as an NDA nominee, it will be difficult. But as an independent, it is different. Then many others will come out in support," Swaraj remarked.

As vice-president, Shekhawat stands above party affiliations, she said. "He is now the vice-president of the country, not a BJP leader. There is a difference."

The BJP leader said a final decision on the NDA strategy for presidential elections had been left to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

"We will naturally abide by whatever decision Vajpayee takes," she said.

On the leadership issue, she said Vajpayee would lead the BJP in 2009 elections.

"Vajpayee is the chairperson of the NDA, naturally he will be our our leader. Where is the question of a leadership problem?" she asked.