Cong, Left dismiss Shekhawat's statement

NEW DELHI: Congress and the Left on Monday sought to dismiss Vice President Bhairaon Singh Shekhawat's statement suggesting his readiness to quit the Presidential race if there was a consensus on re-nominating incumbent APJ Abdul Kalam.

"A candidate has been proposed by the UPA. We have to garner support for the UPA candidate," CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said when asked to comment of the statement of Shekhawat.

Congress spokesman Satyavrat Chaturvedi declined to comment on Shekhawat's statement pointing out that Kalam had not made any statement in the matter.

UPA-Left sources however said that the statement appeared to be an attempt by Shekhawat to get out of a ticklish situation after the announcement of the candidature of Pratibha Patil for the Presidential election.

Sources said that the Third Front has floated the name of Kalam as they wanted to get out of a jam created by their stand of not supporting a NDA or a UPA candidate.