NEWSLINKS US EDITION SOUTH ASIA COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL DEAR REDIFF THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES US ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Former Rajasthan chief minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on Thursday filed his nomination for the August 12 vice-presidential election as the National Democratic Alliance candidate, getting the support of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam paving the way for a comfortable victory.
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani and National Democratic Alliance convenor George Fernandes were among 21 proposers for Shekhawat's nomination.
With the opposition planning to put up a joint candidate, a straight contest for the post appears inevitable.
The opposition is zeroing in on the candidature of senior Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde who belongs to Scheduled Caste.
The 79-year-old Shekhawat, who had been thrice the chief minister of Rajasthan, predicted an 'easy victory' for him, claiming he would also receive support from 'several others' in the opposition, but declined to elaborate.
Shekhawat, who posed for photographs withVajpayee, Advani and Finance Minister Jaswant Singh, as he emerged from Lok Sabha Secretary General G C Malhotra's office after filing the nomination, said he has 'mixed feelings' on moving to Delhi and felt sad at severing ties with the party he has served dutifully for over five decades.
The Vice-President is elected by members of both Houses of Parliament, which has a total strength of 790. While the Rajya Sabha has 233 elected members and 12 nominated, the Lok Sabha has 543 elected members and two nominated.
The 11th President of India: Complete Coverage
The Presidency: A Special Series
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
