NDA to seek Naveen,Jaya support for Jaswant

Speaking to the media later,NDA convenor and JDU president Sharad Yadav said the sole issue for discussion was how to fight the election in an organised manner. Those present at the meeting included Leaders of Opposition Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley,BJP president Nitin Gadkari,former chiefs Murli Manohar Joshi and Rajnath Singh,Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut,Akali Dal representative Naresh Gujral and BJP MPs Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Shahnawaz Hussain,who are managing Singhs election campaign.

Sources said Singhs proposal of meeting all MPs to seek their support was shot down by Advani.

Singh,who filed his nomination last week,has the support of the BJP,JDU,Shiv Sena,Akali Dal and some smaller parties.

UPA candidate Mohammad Hamid Ansari,on the other hand,has a definite edge in the August 7 poll as he has the backing of the Congress,Samajwadi Party,BSP,DMK,RJD,NCP,RLD,CPM,CPI and the National Conference.

Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress,AIADMK and BJD have not announced their support for either of the two candidates.