CHANDIGARH: Vice-President of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Krishna Lal Sharma said the decision of the Communist Party of India (CBI) and CPM to support the Congress-I nominee Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma for President was as tab in the back”, for the Opposition cause.

Addressing newsmen here, Sharma said that the Communist parties have not come out with any convincing reason to support the Congress-I.

Describing their decision to support the Congress (I) nominee as “ridiculous,” the BJP Vice President said that both the parties should come with the fact whether there is ‘any secret deal’ with the Congress.

He said the issue of evolving a consensus candidate was raised by the Prime Minister and the BJP was prepared for it.

He alleged that the Prime Minister by trying to delink the two posts was not honest in evolving such an approach for the post of Vice President.

He said the BJP would expose the Congress (I) Government on this issue.

Main Presidential candidates Dr. Shanker Dayal Sharma and Prof. G.G. Swell are unlikely to launch campaign tours for the July 13 election.

While sources in the Vice President’s office ruled out any campaign tour by Dr.Sharma, Prof. Swell said such a campaign tour would be difficult m view of lack of time.

Swell said he would not be able to visit all State capitals and visiting a few places would appear to be discriminating against the others.

He, however, said he would be launching his formal campaign at a press conference here.

Swell also said the two parties the National Front and the BJP were already campaigning and doing their best to ensure his victory.

In the last Presidential elections, the then Vice President, R. Venkataraman also did not launch any campaign personally.

A third aspirant for the post, Ram Jethmalani, who is contesting as an independent, is planning to launch a nation-wide campaign, it is learnt.

Nothing is known about Kaka Joginder Singh alias Dharti pakad, who is also in the fray for the election.

Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Party headed by Dr. Farooq Abdullah has decided to support Dr. Sharkar Dayal Sharma, National Conference member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Shabir Ahmed Salaria said that this was decided at a party meeting held in Delhi recently and presided over by Dr. Farooq Abdullah.

Article extracted from this publication >> June 10, 1994