The support to 84-year-old Shekhawat as a "non-party and independent" candidate was announced by NDA Chairman Atal Bihari Vajpayee after a meeting of the opposition alliance, which felt the Vice President was the "most qualified and suitable candidate for the high office".

The Shiv Sena, which has taken an "ambiguous" stance on supporting Patil, however, reserved its stand on backing Shekhawat, saying it will take a decision on Tuesday. The Sena, the oldest ideological ally of the BJP, favours top posts for Maharashtrians.

"The Shiv Sena will be taking a decision tomorrow, its foundation day," senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said, quoting Sena leader Manohar Joshi, who attended the meeting.

There was no immediate word from the Vice President, and those close to him saying he was waiting for reports from Chennai, where leaders of the Third Front were holding a conclave on the Presidential election.

"A public figure of eminence, high repute, unmatched credentials, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat has discharged his latest responsibilities as the country's Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha entirely beyond party affiliations and with impeccable secular credentials," Vajpayee said in an obvious reference to the Left's condition that a Presidential candidate needed to be totally secular.

Noting that Shekhawat combines a lifetime's experience of dedicated public service with rare qualities of head and heart, Vajpayee said, "The NDA is unanimously of the view that Shekhawat as a non-party and an independent candidate would be the most appropriate choice."