We have no confrontation with Kalam: Congress

New Delhi, June 22: A day after prominent UPA leaders publicly urged President A P J Abdul Kalam not to seek a second term, the Congress today sought to dispel the impression that it was involved in a confrontation with him.

''At present, we have no confrontation with President Kalam,'' AICC spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan told mediapersons, while playing down the public statement made yesterday by Union Minister and Congress leader Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi asking Dr Kalam not to contest.

She said the Congress had conveyed to Dr Kalam that it would not be able to support him as it had already declared former Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil as its candidate.

Referring to the decision of the 'Third Front' to support the candidature of Dr Kalam, Ms Natarajan said, ''It is unfortunate if the high office of President is dragged into unnecessary speculation and controversy. This is sought to be done by the Third Front to create confusion.'' Union Ministers and UPA leaders Lalu Prasad and Sharad Pawar had also issued public statements yesterday urging Dr Kalam to retire from the contest. Mr Prasad said Dr Kalam should retire gracefully as it was too late for a rethink by the UPA.

Mr Pawar declared that the ''match is over'' for Dr Kalam.

''In a democracy, anyone can contest elections...But one cannot say that he will contest if he wins,'' he said, referring to Dr Kalam's reported insistence that he would seek a second term in Rashtrapati Bhavan only if there was "certainty' over his winning.

UNI