The Hindu : Kalam is NDA candidate

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 11, 2002

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Kalam is NDA candidate

By Harish Khare

The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, with the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, in New Delhi on Monday. — PTI

New Delhi June 10. The National Democratic Alliance this evening changed its mind on its preferred presidential candidate. The Maharashtra Governor, P.C. Alexander, is no longer "a front-runner'' and, instead, the noted scientist, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, has emerged as the man around whom a consensus between the NDA and the Opposition seemed very much on the cards.

Dr. Kalam's candidature was announced at a joint press conference addressed by the NDA convener, George Fernandes, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Pramod Mahajan, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Chandrababu Naidu, and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mayawati. Mr. Naidu described Dr. Kalam "as the best choice.''

In a day of dramatic developments, the NDA leadership found itself constrained to jettison Mr. Alexander, who was the combine's choice on Saturday. The NDA leaders woke up this morning to a realisation that they could no longer afford to risk the displeasure of the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Chandrababu Naidu's who had left no one in doubt about his preference for the Vice-President, Krishan Kant.

More than Mr. Naidu's displeasure, the NDA bosses understood that if the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, with his crucial votes, was not on board on the Alexander choice, then two other key potential "outside'' partners — the AIADMK and the BSP — could also become a doubtful proposition. Late last night, the NDA bosses, after agonising consultations, reached a judgment that the combine must find ways of cutting its losses. And since Mr. Naidu was not to be given the satisfaction of imposing his candidate just as the Opposition was not to be allowed to calibrate a second term for the President, K.R. Narayanan, the "dark horse'' — Dr. Kalam — made his appearance.

Consequently, Dr. Alexander's most vocal advocate, Mr. Mahajan, was advised to appease Mr. Naidu. The two met in Hyderbad and Mr. Mahajan signed the surrender document on behalf of the NDA. With complete brazenness, Mr. Mahajan told newsmen in Hyderabad that the NDA had not taken any decision on any name. Later, he was instructed to convey to the Maharashtra Governor that he would no longer be the ruling combine's presidential candidate.

Back in the capital, the Prime Minister set in motion a process of consultation with the allies and the Opposition. Among those who met or talked to Mr. Vajpayee included the Congress President, Sonia Gandhi (who was accompanied by the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Manmohan Singh), the Samajwadi leader, Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister; the BSP leader, Mayawati, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, the Left leaders, Harkishen Singh Surjeet and A.P. Bardhan, and the NCP leader, P.A. Sangma.

Indications were that the Opposition parties had no problem with Dr. Kalam. There is all-round satisfaction in the Opposition camp that the candidature of the Maharastha Governor had been spiked. "We deem it as an outstanding positive achievement to get Alexander out,'' asserted the Congress spokesperson, Jaipal Redddy. On its part, the People's Front asserted, in a statement: "The display of Opposition unity on the issue of presidential election after the BJP's efforts to unilaterally impose a candidate has compelled the BJP to beat a retreat.''

On the fate of Mr. Narayanan, Mr. Reddy said: "We wont' say yes to anybody without consulting him since we have used his name to keep Alexander out.''

On what transpired at the meeting in 7 RCR, Mr. Reddy said Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh called on the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. They were told that "our candidate now is Abdul Kalam''. When Dr. Singh asked whether he was "your final candidate; how are we to be sure that you won't change your mind again,'' Mr. Advani intervened and said, "he is our final candidate.'' Further, Mr. Advani said: "We are going to have a meeting today and this is our final candidate.''

On the issue of Vice-President, the Congress was told that the two were different issues and would be dealt with separately. Ms. Gandhi informed the Prime Minister and the Home Minister that "we need to consult our party and other parties before we take a view'' upon which the Prime Minister told her that he would be contacting Mulayam Singh Yadav and Harikishan Surjeet.

However, late night indications were that the Left was not at all excited about the idea of Dr. Kalam making it to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Its final views, nonetheless, would depend on the stand Mr. Mulayam Singh takes. His votes have the same centrality to the Opposition calculations as do Mr. Naidu's for the NDA.

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