Congress seeks disqualification of Natwar Singh

NEW DELHI: In a bid to embarrass NDA-backed Presidential nominee Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the Congress on Tuesday sought disqualification of former minister KNatwar Singh, a day after he proposed his name in the election.

The Congress, which on Monday attacked Shekhawat accusing him of hoping for victory on the basis of cross voting, filed the petition against Singh today seeking action from Shekhawat, who is also the competent authority to decide the disqualification issue in his capacity as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Singh, who was suspended last year after his problems with the party on the Volcker issue, was prominently seated with the NDA leaders when Shekhawat filed his nomination.

The petition was filed the party Chief Whip V Narayanasamy on the ground that Singh had campaigned for the Samajwadi Party in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly and thus had attracted the provisions of the anti-defection law.

Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters that Natwar Singh's campaign for the Samajwadi Party was seen on the visual media and that was "enough evidence" for him to be disqualified under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.