Rejecting the Third Front's pleas for a consensus on a second term for President A P J Abdul Kalam, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad today said Kalam step down gracefully.
"Kalam should resign gracefully as it is too late for any reconsideration on the issue," he said after signing the nomination papers of the UPA-Left presidential candidate Pratibha Patil.
His wife Rabri Devi, former chief minister and the leader of the opposition in Bihar, also signed the paper at Prasad's official residence in the presence of senior Congress leader P R Dasmunsi.
After proposing Patil's name, the RJD chief said the victory of UPA-Left candidate is certain as the alliance along with supporting parties have a clear lead of over one lakh votes.
On the second term for Kalam as proposed by Third Front, he said, "It was the NDA chairman and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who had refused for a second term to Kalam."
He said all political parties should support the first woman candidate and "should not play in the hands of the RSS and the BJP on the crucial matter".
"Patil is not only the candidate of Congress party but she is also fully backed by all UPA allies and other parties," he said.
Endorsing Prasad's view, Dasmunsi said the nomination papers of Patil was first signed by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi followed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and BSP chief Mayawati.
