When top-level political endgames for nominating India’s next President were on in Delhi, an unhurried Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Friday chose to hold his cards close to his chest despite the avowed preference for him shown by two major UPA allies a day ago.
During his hectic day-long visit to Patna, during which he found time for a 75-minute-long luncheon meeting with Bihar chief minister and JD(U) stalwart Nitish Kumar, the pre-eminent nuclear scientist and former President replied cryptically to journalists’ questions about his willingness to run for the nation’s top post for a second time.
“Some parties have called me and they all want to see me as the President. I respect their views. I will take the right decision at the right time,” said Dr Kalam. This was hours before Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, in an unexpected twist, broke away from TMC leader and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and indicated his support for the Congress’ choice for finance minister Pranab Mukherjee.
During the luncheon meeting hosted by the Bihar CM in Dr Kalam’s honour, the two men reportedly discussed the ongoing political exercise.
***
Bardhan says support may be difficult
Thufail P.T.
New Delhi, June 15
Even as their vote is considered to be critical for UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee, the Left parties appear to be determined to oppose him in the election. Even though CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat on Friday congratulated Mr Mukherjee on his candidature, CPI leader A.B. Bardhan has openly opposed him, making it clear that Mr Mukherjee was not an option for the Left parties.
Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Bardhan said that it would be difficult for the Left parties to support Mr Mukherjee, who was one of the prime architects of the neo-liberal economic policies that the Left has been vehemently opposing. “Pranab Babu has been one of the prime architects of the UPA’s neo-liberal economic policies. It will be difficult for the Left parties to turn around and support him,” Mr Bardhan said.
“The Congress has announced its candidate unilaterally and in a hurry. They have taken every other party for granted without consulting them,” Mr Bardhan added.
Meanwhile, sources in the CPI said that the recent meeting of the party’s national executive had unanimously decided not to support Mr Mukherjee. Sources said that the party’s West Bengal state secretary was the only one to have made a statement in the meeting favouring Mr Mukherjee. The meeting was of the general view that the party should support the UPA’s candidate only if it was Dr Hamid Ansari or somebody else who is acceptable to the Left.