UNPA leaders intensify campaign for Kalam

New Delhi, June 21 (UNI) The United National Progressive Alliance leaders(UNPA) today intensified its campaign to garner support for the candidature of President A P J Abdul Kalam for a second term even as the Left rejected the proposal.

UNPA leaders Chandra Babu Naidu of the TDP, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mr Amar Singh of the Samajwadi party, Mr Vaiko of the MDMK, Om Prakash Chautala of the INLD, Mr Babulal Marandi of JVM and Mr Brindaban Goswami of the AGP, besides three AIDMK MPs are slated to meet NDA leaders again today.

Besides, they would call on NCP chief Sharad Pawar this evening.

They have also said that they would meet RJD leader Lalu Prasad but did not say when.

A UNPA delegation comprising these leaders had called on Dr Kalam yesterday and secured his consent to go in for a second term. The President had said he would consider his candidature ''provided there was certainty.'' Just after meeting Dr Kalam, the UNPA leaders had called on NDA leaders Atal Bihari vajpayee at his residence where he was joined in by senior BJP leader's Mr LK Advani and Jaswant Singh.

They had told UNPA that NDA would take a final decision on his nomination after discussing the issue with Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and other constituents of the Alliance ''The NDA has declared Mr Shekhawat as its nominee...we will take a decision only after due deliberations with him and the NDA constituents,'' Mr Singh had said after the meeting.

Though UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has said no to a second term for Dr Kalam and refused to meet UNPA leaders on the issue, they were hopeful of meeting her.

UNI