Sena not in favour of Kalam; stand to be announced on June 25

Mumbai, June 19 (UNI) Clearly ruling out backing present incumbent A P J Abdul Kalam, Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray tonight said he would announce his decision on whom to support for the Presidential polls on June 25.

''I will announce my stand regarding Sena's support to Presidential nominee on June 25. This is a new controversy as to who should be made the President. It is not only a dilemma for the Sena but also for Congress, BJP and other parties,'' Mr Thackeray said while speaking at a meeting organised on the occasion of the 41st anniversary of the Shiv Sena.

''I am not in favour of renomination of President A P J Abdul Kalam against the backdrop of delay in the hanging of Parliament attack accused Mohammed Afzal Guru,'' he added.

The issue of awarding captial punishment to Afzal Guru has been pending since last October and no decision has been taken yet, the Sena supremo noted.

''If the file on this issue is pending with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil then why did Mr Patil hold the file for so long?'' he asked.

''If this is the case then why do we need the post of a President,'' he added.

Referring to the statement made by NDA-backed independent nominee Bhairon Singh Shekhawat that he would be happy if a consensus builds around the name of Dr Kalam, who is the Third Front nominee, Mr Thackeray asked, ''In this situation, where should we go?'' UNI