NEW DELHI: The Samajwadi Party made it almost clear on Sunday that it was not inclined to support the candidature of Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who is backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party, for the post of President.

Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil, who is the United Progressive Alliance's Presidential candidate, was back here on Sunday. As part of her campaign, she called on the former Prime Minister, V.P. Singh, the former Union Minister, Karan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Human Resource Minister Arjun Singh. She was accompanied by Prithviraj Chauhan, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office.

Emerging from the meetings, Ms. Patil did not speak to the waiting mediapersons. "I will speak at the appropriate time," she said.

Strategy meeting

On Saturday, Ms. Patil called on Home Minister Shivraj Patil and spoke to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is out of the country, over phone. It is learnt that a strategy meeting was also held with Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi to work out the details of the campaign.

The SP, which held its national executive committee meeting here on Sunday, discussed the Presidential election at length.

At the end of the meeting, Samajwadi leader Ram Gopal Yadav made it clear that the party was not in favour of supporting Mr. Shekhawat.

"Mr. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's roots are in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He was the BJP's nominee for the Vice-President's post. We have neither compromised with communal forces in the past nor will we do so in the future," he said. Although the SP "respected" Ms. Patil as Rajasthan Governor, her stature was "not as high" as that of Mr. Shekhawat, who had performed his function as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha in an unbiased manner.

Earlier, SP general secretary Amar Singh said: "The SP has always fought communal forces. It was formed to ensure that they are wiped out."

The SP made it clear that a final decision would be taken at the scheduled meeting of the Third Front in Chennai on Monday. It was pointed out that though Mr. Mulayam Singh had been authorised to take a decision, the SP would like to consult the other parties in the Front, including the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Telugu Desam Party.

Reports suggested that the Telugu Desam also had reservations in supporting Mr. Shekhawat as it feared the move would alienate its Muslim voters.

Privately, BJP leaders admitted the announcement of Mr. Shekhawat's candidature as an "independent" at the party headquarters on Saturday by Sushma Swaraj had "upset" some parties in the Third Front as well as allies of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). "The pretence that Mr. Shekhawat was independent has fallen," a senior BJP leader said.

Separately, the Janata Dal (United) held its own consultations. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met party president Sharad Yadav and NDA convener George Fernandes. It is no secret that while Mr. Fernandes wants the JD (U) to support Mr. Shekhawat, Mr. Yadav and Mr. Kumar are not so certain.

The BJP is also concerned over the Shiv Sena's stance. Apparently, not only has Prime Minister Manmohan Singh talked to Sena chief Bal Thackeray a few days ago, Ms. Patil also telephoned him, as did Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar.

Pressure on Shiv Sena

BJP sources here said it was not certain whether the Sena would attend the NDA meeting on Monday to discuss the Presidential poll as the Sena's decision was likely to be finalised only on Tuesday. The Sena is under pressure to support Ms. Patil, a Maharashtrian.

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