New Delhi, June 19
With an important NDA partner Shiv Sena today declaring support for UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee and another key ally JD(U) showing signs of doing the same, an embarrassed BJP has been left with little option but to back former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma in the presidential election.

Despite desertions by its allies, the BJP is firm that it will not allow the President’s post to go uncontested, although it is now evident that Mukherjee is far ahead in the race.

There is no official word from the BJP, but party insiders said senior leader LK Advani had got in touch with AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik, who had proposed Sangma’s candidature, and asked them to take the lead in canvassing support for the former Speaker as an Independent candidate.

The BJP was forced to change its strategy for the presidential election after NDA allies like Shiv Sena, JD(U) and the Akali Dal, were not enthused about pitting a candidate against Pranab Mukherjee. Well aware that a candidate proposed by the NDA would not find ready acceptance, Advani asked Jayalalithaa and Patnaik to be more proactive in mustering support for Sangma.

The veteran BJP leader is learnt to have suggested that the two Chief Ministers should also approach NDA allies such as the Shiv Sena, JD(U) and estranged UPA partner Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.

“It’s one thing for the BJP to seek support from these parties, but when they are approached by Jayalalithaa and Patnaik, it acquires a different connotation,” explained a senior BJP leader, adding that this could even help rope in Mamata Banerjee, who would, otherwise, not like to be seen in the company of the NDA.

The BJP was forced to change track after former President APJ Abdul Kalam opted out of the Presidential race and it was subsequently informed late last night by Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray about his decision to support UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee.

In a formal statement today, Thackeray described Pranab Mukherjee as the “right candidate” for the top post and sought unanimous support for him. “Let bygones be bygones. Let us unanimously support Pranab Mukherjee and show the world “hum sab ek hain” (we are all united),” the Shiv Sena chief said today.

Thackeray, it is learnt, was never in favour of a token contest. Besides the Shiv Sena, JD(U) chief and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has reservations about opposing Pranab Mukherjee. He is yet to spell out his official position but all indications are that the JD(U) will go the Shiv Sena way.

Not only has Nitish Kumar split with the BJP over the presidential election but he has also made it known, through an interview, that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will not be acceptable as the NDA’s prime ministerial candidate.

But the BJP is firm that as a principal Opposition party, it should not allow the UPA candidate to win unopposed. It was also hoping to use this opportunity to expand the NDA by befriending the BJD and the AIADMK with an eye on the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. It’s a different matter that the BJP has instead ended up exposing chinks in the NDA armour.

Meanwhile, virtually putting on notice former Lok Sabha Speaker and senior party leader PA Sangma for his insistence on contesting the Presidential poll, the Nationalist Congress Party said the North-East leader would face action if he chose to break ranks.

Pranab Mukherjee is expected to file on June 28 his nomination papers for Presidential election. Four sets of nomination papers, each having 50 proposers and seconders, are being readied for the nomination, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said. He could step down as Finance Minister after his nomination.