Rediff

New Delhi, Jun 29: A delegation of National Democratic Alliance leaders is scheduled to meet the Election Commission on Friday with a complaint against the Congress that it was using undue influence on voters in the presidential election.

The complaint comes in the wake of the Congress petition to the Rajya Sabha secretariat for disqualification of former Union minister Natwar Singh, who proposed Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's candidacy for presidency.

NDA spokesperson Sushma Swaraj, who is leading the delegation to the Election Commission, has said the Congress' contention that it was its second petition for Singh's disqualification as Rajya Sabha member because of his role in the SP's campaign in Uttar Pradesh was false.

She alleges that the move showed the ruling party was using pressure tactics to secure support for United Progressive Alliance-Left candidate Pratibha Patil.

NDA sources, however, say the opposition alliance has yet to receive any concrete offer of support from parties outside the grouping.

"Our media strategists are on the job. The BJP has launched a vigorous campaign against Patil, but the fact is that this is not a direct election in which people participate. Whether this media campaign will be able to win support from parties that do not want to associate themselves in any way with us is yet unclear," a senior BJP leader said.