UPA suggested that Bhairon Singh Shekhawat quit as V-P to take on Pratibha Patil in the Presidential poll as it debunked the NDA's plans to seek a conscience vote.
NEW DELHI: Going on the offensive, the UPA on Tuesday suggested that Bhairon Singh Shekhawat quit as Vice President to take on Pratibha Patil in the Presidential poll as it debunked the NDA's plans to seek a conscience vote.
In a show of unity, Congress as also several constituents of the UPA addressed a joint press conference and hit out at the opposition for resorting to "smear campaign based on frivolous and unfounded allegations" against Patil put up by the alliance.
Leader of Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee, who addressed the conference along with leaders like Lalu Prasad and T R Baalu, condemned the "nature and tenor" of the current campaign in which the decor and dignity of the past campaigns is found absent.
"There are certain issues on which individuals are to take a decision at appropriate moment. I leave it at that," Mukherjee said when asked whether UPA favours that Shekhawat quit as Vice President to ensure a level playing field in the straight fight with Patil in the July 19 poll.
Seeking to take the bottom out of the opposition campaign for a conscience vote, the External Affairs Minister said "there is always a conscience vote because the elected representative exercise their voting right as per their conscience and vote according to the desire of the party. Who says there is no conscience vote."
Mukherjee as also Prasad and Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi singled out Leader of Opposition L K Advani for attack for remarks against Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Prasad said Shekhawat was a candidate of BJP and RSS notwithstanding the fact he was contesting as an independent.
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