NDA to support Kalam if he agrees to contest for second term

Patna, Jun 22 (UNI) The National Democratic Alliance(NDA) will support incumbent President Abdul Kalam if he agreed to contest for the second term in office.

BJP MP and in-charge of the political affairs of the party in Bihar, Kalraj Mishra told UNI here that NDA had decided to support Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat for the post of President when Mr Kalam had indicated that he would contest if consensus among the political parties went in his favour.

Later, Kalam changed his stand and gave hints to the Third Front leaders that he would contest if there was certainty of his victory, he added.

''Third Front leaders were trying to persuade Kalam to contest for second term and NDA was ready to support him if he decided to contest again,'' he said adding the NDA would seek the support of the Third Front in the event of Kalam's refusal to throw his hat for the highest constitutional post of the country.

Mr Mishra said that the UPA did not take initiative to evolve consensus on candidate for the presidential election and lamented that Congress president Sonia Gandhi sought support only after they formally announced Pratibha Patil as their candidate for the post of President of India.

'' A consensus could have emerged, if the UPA had taken the NDA into confidence before deciding their candidate,'' he maintained.

UNI