Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 21, 2007
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Online edition of India's National Newspaper Thursday, Jun 21, 2007 ePaper |
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Front Page
Gargi Parsai
Sonia Gandhi refuses to meet third front leaders Vajpayee says he will consult the NDA’s allies
NEW DELHI: Leaders of the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) were taken by surprise when President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam agreed to their suggestion to contest for a second term. What was meant to be a perfunctory gesture — amidst rumours that the President had already conveyed his reluctance in the absence of a “consensus” — turned out to be a serious effort by the end of the day. The UNPA leaders spoke to United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who said Pratibha Patil was their candidate. When they sought an appointment to meet her, Ms. Gandhi said she would get back. She later returned the call, saying she did not think it was necessary to meet on the issue, Telugu Desam Party president Chandrababu Naidu told mediapersons. Next, the UNPA leaders called National Democratic Alliance chairman Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who agreed to meet them. During the meeting, Mr. Vajpayee was joined by Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh and senior leaders L.K. Advani and Jaswant Singh. The NDA has thrown its weight behind Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, with one of its allies — the Shiv Sena — categorically declaring its opposition to Mr. Kalam’s candidature. Mr. Vajpayee, however, said he would consult the NDA allies and also speak to Mr. Shekhawat. The UNPA leaders will meet him again on Thursday evening. “The best candidate”
“Seeing the mood of the nation and the will of the people, we believe that Mr. Kalam is the best candidate. It is in the interest of the nation. He is the common man’s President,” Mr. Naidu said after the UNPA leaders met Mr. Kalam. The TDP leader said Mr. Kalam told the UNPA delegation that he was willing to contest for a second term “if there was certainty.” He too had been receiving “millions of e-mails from people from all walks of life asking him to contest for a second term,” the President was quoted as saying. Asserting that there was no politics involved, Mr. Naidu said Mr. Kalam would win hands down if the people were to vote on the issue. But since only political parties were involved in the Presidential election, the UNPA would try to build a consensus on Mr. Kalam. “If all political parties support [it], there will be certainty.” Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh put out an appeal to “all” candidates to withdraw in favour of Mr. Kalam. Indian National Lok Dal leader Om Prakash Chautala quoted the President as saying that he needed “certainty.” “Give me time. I will decide,” he is supposed to have told the UNPA delegation. The President’s media managers were present at the Rashtrapati Bhavan premises when the UNPA leaders were briefing the media. Among the other leaders present at the meeting with Mr. Kalam included Amar Singh (SP), Yerran Naidu (TDP), M. Thambidurai, K. Malaisamy, V. Maithreyan (All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), Vaiko and Pollachi Krishnan (Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), and A. Goswami (Asom Gana Parishad). AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa could not come as she was not well, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu said. More meetings today
The UNPA has lined up appointments on Thursday with Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat, CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar in their bid to assure a “certainty” for Mr. Kalam to contest.
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