CPI(M) will not support Kalam: Karat

Hyderabad, June 20 (UNI) Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Prakash Karat today said his party will not support the candidature of President A P J Abdul Kalam for a second term as it had supported Ms Pratibha Patil, the UPA nominee.

Speaking to newspersons here, Mr Karat said his party had decided to field Ms Patil as the UPA candidate for the coveted post. ''We have taken the decision to field Ms Patil as the UPA candidate. The party will not reconsider its decision and will not support Mr Kalam if he contested for the post,'' he maintained.

He said the Vice-Presidential candidate would be selected after consulting all parties.

UNI