Kalam refuses to be Opposition candidate for President
Former President A P J Abdul Kalam has conveyed to his well-wishers in the non-UPA parties that he is not interested in contesting for the post of the President again.
An up-beat non-UPA parties who have a majority of popular votes in Parliament and also in majority of State Assemblies, had informally sounded Prof Kalam. Since some of the UPA allies including TMC have been publicly throwing tantrums, the Opposition is contemplating to put the government on the mat in the Presidential polls. It was considered that Kalam will be the most acceptable face if the UPA decides to put up Vice President Hamid Ansari for the President’s post.
But Kalam made it clear that he is not interested in going back to the Raisina Hills. There is no question of his becoming a common Opposition candidate either. At best, he may re-consider his decision if all parties are unanimously willing to accept his candidature.
The Opposition parties may have to look for another acceptable face and other names being considered for the post are former West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishan Gandhi, NDA Convenor Sharad Yadav or an octogenarian more acceptable to all. Sharad Yadav is secular and may be acceptable to entire non-NDA secular parties including SP, BSP and the Left.
Well done Dr Kalam
