NEW DELHI, 12 June — President K.R. Narayanan would not be a candidate at the presidential elections on July 15, it was announced yesterday.
A statement from Rashtrapati Bhawan or the presidential palace said reports in the media had suggested that Narayanan could be a candidate for the polls. “This is to clarify that K.R. Narayanan is not a candidate,” the statement said.
On Monday, the ruling coalition had picked eminent scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as its nominee for president. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had earlier informed Narayanan that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) did not favor a second term for him. Vajpayee is reported to have told Narayanan that the NDA did not wish to break with the convention under which the president did not get a second five-year term in office.
The opposition parties like the Congress party and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) had been attempting to persuade Narayanan to contest as their joint nominee. His decision followed sharp differences within the opposition parties with the Samajwadi Party announcing its support for Kalam while its Left partners in the People’s Front opposed the NDA nominee saying he lacked “political background.”
The delicately-balanced electoral college for the presidential poll already had a slight edge for NDA and its supporting parties like the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party.
With the added support of Samajwadi Party for its surprise choice of Kalam, the NDA nominee would have a decisive edge as the Samajwadi Party has a sizable number of votes in parliament and Uttar Pradesh Assembly. The Congress, which put off its final decision on the issue awaiting Narayanan’s stand, has called a meeting of its Working Committee (CWC) today to take a decision in the light of the president’s announcement.
Earlier yesterday it appeared that Kalam would get the support of the political spectrum but as the day wore on, it became clear that the Congress, the CPM and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) were having second thoughts. Both the Congress and the Communists said they needed more time to discuss the issue, indicating that they would continue to back Narayanan for a second term unless he refused the offer. RJD President Laloo Yadav said he favored Kalam but would accept the decision of the Congress.
At a meeting called by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, the party could not take a decision on Kalam. The Congress gave the impression that it would like Narayanan to withdraw from the race to give it a face-saving way-out.
The CWC, which also met earlier yesterday, had authorized Sonia to hold discussions with the People’s Front leaders on the issue. However, analysts say it would not be as easy for the opposition to reject Kalam’s candidature as it was to dismiss Alexander’s. Kalam is a Muslim and opposition to him might be construed as an anti-minority stance.
Meanwhile, on the issue the NDA got favor from the AIADMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha who described Kalam as an ideal person for the top post. She said that all the political parties should support him.
