The Hindu : Front Page : Kalam declines to contest for a second term

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Saturday, Jun 23, 2007
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Kalam declines to contest for a second term

Gargi Parsai & Neena Vyas

UNPA: We’ll support neither Shekhawat nor Pratibha

Kalam deeply hurt, says Jayalalithaa
UNPA to announce next step later

NEW DELHI: President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Friday decided not to contest for a second term. He conveyed this to leaders of the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) when they called on him here for a “final answer.”

Following this development, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) once again declared its support to Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and formally asked the UNPA to back him.

The UNPA, however, declared at a press conference, that it would support neither Mr. Shekhawat nor the United Progressive Alliance candidate Pratibha Patil. Although they seem to have limited options now, including abstaining from voting, the UNPA leaders said they would announce their next step later.

After their 75-minute meeting with Mr. Kalam, the UNPA leaders met the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other NDA leaders. BJP spokesperson Sushma Swaraj said the UNPA leaders conveyed to the NDA that the President had “categorically and clearly” refused to contest for a second term.

When the NDA formally sought the UNPA’s support for Mr. Shekhawat, its leaders said they would discuss the matter and come back.

Asked whether the NDA had fallen into a trap in supporting Mr. Kalam in preference to Mr. Shekhawat, Ms. Swaraj said the NDA was the first to ask the President to contest again. “When the UNPA proposed it, we went along with it.”

“Denigration of post”

At the UNPA’s joint press conference, All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief Jayalalithaa said: “The President said he was deeply wounded by the attack on him after he decided to accept our offer to contest. He has been deeply hurt by the statement of those in high positions. The kind of boorish and churlish language that has been used amounts to denigration of the high post of President and does not befit the high positions held by those [Union Ministers] who have used such language.”

Ms. Jayalalithaa said Mr. Kalam did not want to be dragged into this unseemly politics. “With deep regret he conveyed to us that he is not willing. We have done our best to evolve a consensus on his candidature. Although he appreciated our sentiments, feelings and efforts, he said he was firm on not contesting.”

She said the UNPA proposed the name of Mr. Kalam, respected all over the country and the world, to counter a few “scheming, selfish politicians who wanted to put up someone for selfish considerations.” She profusely thanked the NDA leaders for “graciously supporting” Mr. Kalam.

Telugu Desam Party leader Chandrababu Naidu said the UNPA had made it clear that it would support neither the UPA nor NDA candidate, nor even an independent supported by these alliances. “We want to keep equidistance from both.”

The other leaders who met Mr. Kalam included the former Chief Ministers Mulayam Singh and Om Prakash Chautala.

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