People's Prez open to second term

New Delhi: President APJ Abdul Kalam has finally bowed in the face of overwhelming public love and support for him and agreed to take up the post of President for another term. The President has a condition though, that there has to be certainty before he says yes to join the race.

"As there is overwhelming love from people from across the country, I am willing to go for a second term if there is certainity. However, I am willing to wait for a few days," President Kalam told a delegation of Third Front leaders on Wednesday when they called on him to persuade the former nuclear scientist to join the race.

After days of media speculation about Kalam's reluctance to take up the post for a second term, the President finally made his stand clear when leaders of the Third Front called on him to persuade him to seek a second term in the top post.

Kalam is ready for a second term "if there is certainty," Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu was quoted by PTI as saying after the meeting.

Asked to elaborate what he meant by certainty, Naidu said: "Your draw your own conclusions. It includes everything."

While political pundits were still trying to read between the lines to draw inference from these words, some tried to interpret the words and say that Kalam is indeed willing to continue if there is political consensus around his name.

This, however, looks a distant possibility now considering the fact that the UPA-Left combine has already started the process of fielding Pratibha Patil for the election.

Buoyed by Kalam's positive response, the UNPA immediately launched a campaign, reaching out to both the NDA and UPA camps in an effort to build consensus in support of Kalam.

Top UNPA leader and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu even approached Sonia Gandhi asking support for Kalam. The UPA chairman, however, is believed to have declined the appeal. Naidu, however, is likely to hold a second round of meeting with Sonia Gandhi sometime soon.

The UNPA leaders also called on former prime minister and senior BJP leader Atal Behari Vajpayee, asking his for support on Kalam. Vajpayee is believed to have told the Third Front leaders that he wants all attempts to be made in favour of Kalam's nomination.

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On Monday, top NDA leader and Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat had met Vajpayee, asking him to choose between him and Kalam. The UNPA leaders will also meet Left leaders Prakash Karat and AB Bardhan and NCP president Sharad Pawar on Thursday.

They are also likely to approach DMK Chief Karunanidhi, seeking his party's support for Kalam. The UNPA leaders said they are hopeful of getting DMK support for Kalam. Kalam's Tamil credentials could bring the DMK on their side, the Third Front leader said.

Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray has, however, refused to back Kalam for a second term. “There is no question of supporting Kalam. Why didn't he decide on Afzal Guru six months back?” Thackeray said in Mumbai on Tuesday in an outburst against the President.

Naidu made the comments after a meeting with Kalam along with some other leaders of the newly formed United National Progressive Alliance, who included Mulayam Singh Yadav, Amar Singh, Chandrababu Naidu and Om Prakash Chautala. J Jayalalithaa, chief of AIADMK which is a partner of UNPA , however stayed away from the meeting.

Jayalalithaa cancelled her trip to Delhi at the last minute on reports that Kalam may not be in favour of contesting election in the face of lack of a political consensus on him. AIADMK leaders M Thambidurai and K Malaichami represented AIADMK in the delegation to meet Kalam.

Apart from AIADMK, Telugu Desam Party, Samajwadi Party and INLD, the UNPA also comprises Assom Gana Parishad, Jharkand Vikas Morcha, MDMK and Kerala Congress(J).

Two days ago, the alliance leaders sprang a surprise by proposing a second term for Kalam, a development that was welcomed by Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who had even expressed his readiness to quit the race if there was consensus on Kalam.

UNPA leaders will meet meet Left's Prakash Karat and A B Bardan and NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday.