NDA-UPA meet on Presidential candidate inconclusive

New Delhi, June 27 (UNI) A meeting between the leaders of NDA and the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) here to reach an understading on fielding President APJ Abdul Kalam as their joint candidate against UPA nominee Pratibha Patil in the July 19 election to the highest constitutional office was inconclusive.

According to a senior BJP leader, they would again meet tomorrow at 1730 hrs at former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's residence. ''The intention is to defeat the Congress nominee in the Presidential poll...we will meet again tomorrow,'' he said.

Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav said the UNPA had approached all parties on supporting a second term for President Kalam. ''However, we have not received any positive response from the UPA constituents. The NDA has responded positively to our proposal,'' he added.

The NDA leaders began their meeting at 1730 hrs this evening. The UNPA leaders reached Mr Vajpayee's residence at 1830 hours as scheduled, after having a meeting with Nationalist Congress Party leader and Union Minister Sharad Pawar on Dr Kalam's candidature.

The UNPA delegation comprised Mr Mulayam Singh (Samajwadi Party), Mr Om Prakash Chautala (INLD), Mr Chandrababu Naidu and Mr Yerran Naidu (both from TDP), Mr Thambi Durai (AIADMK) and Mr Brindawan Goswami (AGP).

UNI