Prez poll: BJP attempts to persuade JD-U and Shiv Sena

Patna - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday made an attempt to persuade its allies, the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and the Shiv Sena, to back former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma for the presidential poll.

"I will take this occasion to appeal to the JD-U and the Shiv Sena, both have impeccable anti-Congress record. Nitish Kumarji and Sharad Yadavji have been known anti-Congress leaders, pupiled by Ram Manohar Lohia, Jayprakash Narayanji, where we fought together against the emergency and went to jail," said senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.

 "I will appeal to JD-U and Shiv Sena to consider their stands and also support Sangma, a known respected leader of the northeast," he added, while emphasizing that UPA nominee and current Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is equally responsible for the economic mess of the country.

Prasad further termed the recent controversy to be unfortunate, and pointed out that the relationship between JD-U and BJP is 16-years-old.

"As far as the recent controversy in concern, I have to say with respect that the relationship between JD-U and BJP is now 16 years old. We have fought nine elections together, five Lok Sabha and four Vidhan Sabha. And the present controversy is deeply unfortunate and wholly unnecessary," he said.

Prasad also hit out at the ruling Congress Party for sleeting a presidential candidate without consensus.

"In the annals of India's constitutional polity this is the 13th election of president. In all elections except only 1977 of Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, there has always been a contest. Even Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. Radhakrishnan (Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan), Dr. Zakir Hussain and even A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had to contest," said Prasad.

"The right to contest for the post of president is integral to democracy. The UPA never sought consensus, like (in case of) A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Vajpayeeji talked to Sonia Gandhi before hand. Here a decision was taken," he added.

 Prasad further said the BJP has decided not to support the UPA and give it legitimacy because of misrule, malgovernance, corruption and price rise.

"To protest it, today we are going to offer a dharna in Patna and over all the country," he said.

 The presidential elections will be held on July 19. The vote count will take place on July 22.

Pratibha Devisingh Patil's term as President ends on July 24.(ANI)