IANS/New Delhi

 
Former president A P J Abdul Kalam yesterday said he would not contest the presidential election after studying the “totality” of the situation, spiking what could have been a high-profile battle with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
The decision disappointed Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Both were keen to pit the former missile scientist who was also India’s head of state from 2002 to 2007.
In a brief statement after days of speculation, Kalam said he was urged to contest by many politicians and other citizens.
“Though I have never aspired to serve another term or shown interest in contesting, Mamata Banerjee, other political parties wanted me to be their candidate,” he said.
“Many, many citizens have also expressed the same wish. It only reflects their love and affection for me and the aspiration of the people,” Kalam said in the statement.
“I am really overwhelmed... This being their wish, I respect it. I want to thank them for the trust they have in me.
“I have considered the totality of the matter and the present political situation and decided not to contest the presidential election,” he said.
Sources said the former president conveyed his decision first to BJP leader L K Advani, who phoned him twice requesting him to contest next month against Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) nominee Mukherjee.
Sudheendra Kulkarni, a former aide to Advani, also met Kalam twice yesterday in a bid to persuade him to change his mind.
But Kalam, who had also been consulting his close friends in recent days, eventually decided not to plunge into the electoral battle, perhaps realising that his chances of winning were near nil.
But unlike in 2002 when he emerged a clear winner with only the Communists opposed to him, this time some sections of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) were themselves not eager to field him.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal-United and Punjab’s ruling Akali Dal parties favour a president who is elected by consensus.
But Banerjee has come out strongly against Mukherjee. And former Lok Sabha speaker Purno Sangma refuses to withdraw from the race although only the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Biju Janata Dal are backing him.
The Congress appeared happy over Kalam’s decision. And so was Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, who declared in Lucknow that “the Kalam chapter” was now over.
On Wednesday, Yadav, along with Banerjee, had virtually rejected Mukherjee.
The two leaders that day named Kalam, former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as their three preferred candidates for the presidency.
Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress were left red-faced after Yadav on Friday did a U-turn, and announced he would support Mukherjee. But an unfazed Banerjee remained firm on her stand to support Kalam.
Asked whether the Trinamool leadership apprehended cross-voting from its side in the event of a contest, a party MP said: “It is too early to comment that there will be cross-voting.”
The MP also said the future of the Trinamool in the UPA will depend on the “attitude of the Congress.”
Banerjee, in order to garner public support for Kalam, had also logged onto Facebook and had requested netizens to come out in support of Kalam.
Kalam has been awarded the Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award.
He spearheaded the weaponisation of India’s strategic missile systems, and was involved in the 1998 nuclear tests too.
As of now, Mukherjee appears to be a clear favourite to occupy the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The presidential election, if it takes place, will be held on July 19. The results will be declared three days later.
Congress MP mocks Mamata
Congress MP Adhir Choudhury yesterday mocked Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee over A P J Abdul Kalam’s decision to stay away from the presidential poll, and said her main agenda was to oppose UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee. “The main agenda behind putting up the name of A P J Abdul Kalam was to oppose Pranab Mukherjee’s candidature. She has decided to oppose Pranab-da at any cost. What will she do now? Kalam has already stated that he will not contest the presidential polls,” Choudhury said. “Kalam was never interested in contesting. In fact, Mamata was more interested in having Kalam as the presidential candidate. Now after losing the political battle she has decided not to speak, but only write her comments on Facebook,” he said. Choudhury said the people of West Bengal will give a fitting reply to Banerjee for opposing the candidature of Mukherjee - the first Bengali since Independence - for the top post.