The Hindu : Withdraw Presidential candidate, CM tells Left

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 17, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Withdraw Presidential candidate, CM tells Left

By Our Special Correspondent

The Presidential candidate, A.P.J. Kalam, presenting his book `India Vision 2020' to the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, when she called on him in Chennai on Sunday. — Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

CHENNAI June 16. The Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, who today met the Presidential candidate, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, appealed to the Left parties to withdraw their candidate, Lakshmi Sehgal, from the fray.

Emerging from the Anna University Vice-Chancellor's office, where she had a 15-minute interaction with Dr.Kalam, Ms. Jayalalithaa was asked by journalists for her opinion about the Left parties' decision to field their own candidate for the Presidential election. She said ``It is still not too late. Even now I will appeal to the Left parties to withdraw their candidate so that Dr. Kalam can be elected unopposed...''

On the apprehensions raised in some quarters that Dr. Kalam was not a politician to hold the post, Ms.Jayalalithaa said ``One need not be a politician to become President.''

Describing the meeting as ``cordial and pleasant'', Ms. Jayalalithaa said since he was going to Delhi tomorrow to file nomination, she thought it would be appropriate for her to convey the wishes of the Tamil Nadu people to Dr. Kalam. It was indeed a proud hour for the State, she said.

During the brief interaction, the Chief Minister said Dr.Kalam presented her an autographed copy of his book ``India Vision 2020''.

Asked how she felt a person from Tamil Nadu was going to be the President for the third time, she said every one, all Tamilians, especially the student community were very proud of the honour.

An official release later added that during the meeting Dr. Kalam appreciated the Chief Minister's efforts to develop Tamil Nadu as the ``No.1 State''. In this connection, Dr. Kalam explained to Ms. Jayalalithaa some plans he had drawn through the Anna University to improve rural areas on a par with urban centres, as also his vision for making India a superpower. Ms.Jayalalithaa assured Dr. Kalam that the Government was keen to put such valuable plans into action.

The Governor, P. S. Ramamohan Rao and the Chennai Mayor, M.K. Stalin, also greeted Dr. Kalam.

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