Click to play videoNew Delhi: Springing a surprise, the so-called Third Front on Monday refused to sway either NDA or UPA way and instead brought in a new element to the race for Rashtrapati Bhavan by coming out in support of a second term for APJ Abdul Kalam.
The front dismissed UPA-Left nominee Pratibha Patil as a "joke played on the nation by Sonia Gandhi" and maintained that many parties have "reservation" over supporting Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who has thrown in the hat in the contest as an independent candidate.
"Kalam commands the respect of all sections of the society. We will meet Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and persuade him to contest the elections," AIADMK chief Jayalalitha told journalists along with other front leaders, including TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav. "Pratibha Patil does not have the kind of stature to become President."
Criticising the UPA's decision to field Patil in the presidential election, Jayalalithaa said: "UPA-Left has put up a candidate like Pratibha Patil. But many people consider this is some kind of a joke by Sonia Gandhi."
The announcement came after a meeting of the front leaders earlier on Monday. The front was faced with a big predicament on having to choose between the NDA and UPA in view of its declared projection of being a non-BJP and non-Congress alternative.
She said the Third Front feels that the election of the highest constitutional office should not be politicised. "The leaders of the UNPA feel that a general consensus should be built for the Presidential poll."
"We will meet Kalam and persuade him to stand for the post of the President. There is no one who can match Kalam's stature and it will be universally acceptable to all," the AIADMK leader said.
She also appealed to other parties to support Kalam's candidature. "We are requesting all political parties to put aside political considerations and support Kalam's candidature. We will wait for the political response," she said.
Mulayam Singh Yadav said that the Third Front parties decided on Kalam's candidature unanimously. "The nation needs a statesman like Kalam," TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu said. INLD's Om Prakash Chautala also insisted that none else is a more suitable candidate than Dr Kalam for the post of President.
Earlier, leaders of front parties decided to have the name of United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA). The eight-party front included AIADMK, Samajwadi Party, Telegu Desam Party and Indian National Lok Dal among others.
The front said it would make efforts to persuade Kalam to run for a second term. "We are making an appeal now to all political parties who are part of NDA-BJP, UPA-Left, particularly DMK, to support Kalam for a second term because he is from Tamil Nadu," Jayalalithaa, a known detractor of DMK, said.
He said the Third Front leaders will meet Kalam shortly. "Kalam is a neutral person. Pratibha Patil cannot be compared to Dr Kalam," Naidu said.
(With PTI inputs)
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