National

We will not put up candidate, says Chautala

“We do not have the numbers”

Chandigarh:

Chandigarh: United National Progressive Alliance leader Om Prakash Chautala on Sunday ruled out the possibility of the front fielding a candidate for the next month’s Presidential election.

“One thing is certain, we will not put up our candidate. We don’t want to become the subject of a joke,” he told PTI here.

The former Haryana Chief Minister said the newly-formed Third Front, christened the UNPA, had the capacity to “make someone victorious, but we do not have the numbers to put up our own candidate.”

After President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam rejected their offer to run for a second term, the UNPA decided not to support either the NDA or the UPA-Left in the election.

As to what strategy they were going to adopt in the light of Mr. Kalam rejecting their offer, he said, “It’s still a long way to go for the polls. Let’s see what situation emerges.”

Asked whether the UNPA would support Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who will file his nomination for the poll on Monday as an independent backed by the NDA despite the numbers not being in his favour, he evaded a direct reply.

Mr. Chautala said the UNPA had felt Mr. Kalam would have been the “best choice.” “Had there been a direct election, he would have won hands down. We tried to press upon him to contest but Mr. Kalam came down to numbers and later felt the highest post should not be dragged into unseemly politics.”

Mr. Chautala criticised some UPA Ministers for hurling barbs at Mr. Kalam.

“Political leaders should not be saying such things [using cricketing terms] while referring to a person, who occupies the country’s highest post,” he said. — PTI

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