The Hindu : Front Page : Ball in UPA court: NDA

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Wednesday, Jun 20, 2007
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Ball in UPA court: NDA

Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI: The National Democratic Alliance has sought to end the confusion arising from Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat’s statement on Monday that he would be “happy” if President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam were to emerge as the cons ensus candidate for a second term.

After Mr. Shekhawat’s statement hinting that he would step aside if Mr. Kalam were to emerge as the consensus candidate, several NDA allies, including the Trinamool Congress and some Janata Dal (United) leaders let it be publicly known they woul d prefer Mr. Kalam to Mr. Shekhawat.

To dispel the impression that Mr. Shekhawat may be readying to quit the race, NDA spokesperson Sushma Swaraj emphatically said here on Tuesday: “Mr. Shekhawat is our candidate and he will be our candidate.”

When a reporter suggested that Mr. Shekhawat’s statement in favour of Mr. Kalam was an exercise in public relations, Ms. Swaraj described it as a “great act of statesmanship.” But, privately, some BJP leaders admitted that the electo ral arithmetic was against the NDA, especially after the United National Progressive Front’s reluctance to back Mr. Shekhawat became public.

That the Kalam-for-second-term gambit was only a political game became clear when Ms. Swaraj stated the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance had no plan to persuade Mr. Kalam to re-think his position that he would not contest for a second term. Nor was there any move to talk to United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi or Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ask them to review their position favouring Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil as their candidate, Ms. Swaraj admitted. “The ball is in the UPA court, it is up to the Congress to review its position.”

Ms. Swaraj was asked why the NDA was advocating a second term for Mr. Kalam when the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had turned down a similar suggestion for K.R. Narayanan on the plea that there was a convention against a second term for the President’s post (a convention followed since the first President, Rajendra Prasad, was given two tenures). Her response was, “There is no comparison between Kalam and Narayanan.”

Sena decision on June 25

Mumbai Special Correspondent reports:

The Shiv Sena will announce its preference for President on June 25. The party continues to keep its cards close to its chest and has deferred an announcement again.

On the 41st Foundation Day of the Sena on Tuesday, Bal Thackeray said he has not decided on whom to back yet. Addressing party workers here, he said Mr. Kalam was never on his mind. In the matter of Afzal Guru’s hanging, the Supreme Court gave i ts order in October 2006 but it has still not been implemented.

He also criticised Home Minister Shivraj Patil. He said if files were just passed around and no decision taken what was the use of the post of President.

“For a long time we have been saying ‘Rashtrapati’ and now maybe it is time to say ‘Rashtrapatni’, Mr. Thackeray remarked. However, he gave no indication of the Sena’s choice.

At a meeting held last week at his residence, party leaders and Mr. Thackeray were to take a call on which candidate to back. During the meeting it was decided that the Sena chief would make an announcement on Tuesday.

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