National Democratic Alliance spokesperson Sushma Swaraj has asked the Congress and Left parties to clear their stand on the latest developments in the presidential race following Dr Kalam's assertion that he is willing to contest for another term in the office of President of India provided there is 'certainity' of his re-election.
"The Congress and Left parties must clarify their stand following the assurance given by Dr Kalam to the Third Front delegation which called on him on Wednesday and about the assurance the President gave to them," she said.
She made it clear that this does not mean that Shekhawat had opted out of the race in favour of Kalam. "If Kalam is there then Shekhawat would not be there but if Kalam is not there then Shekhwat would be there. The smaller parties like NCP, Lok Janshakati Party and the Bahujan Samajvadi party would have to clarify their stand. Mayawati has so far not issued a statement favouring the candidatures of Pratibha Patil," she claimed.
Asked by when Shekhawat would file his nomination, Swaraj said that the situation would get clear in a day or two.
Earlier in the day, former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chanderbabu Naidu said that Kalam was people's President and all the surveys shown by various television networks have shown that he is way ahead of others. Dr Kalam told us that he has been receiving millions of emails from people asking him to go for second term in office.
"When we requested him that in the interest of the nation and people of India he should re-consider his earlier stand Dr Kalam said that he is willing to contest provided there is certainity," Naidu told newsmen along with the member of delegation in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
However, Naidu did not specify the term certainity. "Let us leave it like this at the moment," he said.
Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson S M Khan said that the President had made it clear to the Third Front leaders that he would not go and seek the support of any party and it was up to them to come back to him if there was certainty about a second term for him.
