The government appeared to suggest that President Kalam should not enter the race after Manmohan Singh conveyed to him the decision of the ruling alliance.
NEW DELHI: The government on Thursday appeared to suggest that President A P J Abdul Kalam should not enter the race for his succession after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has conveyed to him the decision of the ruling alliance to put up its own candidate.
"When Prime Minister called on President after his Germany visit, he did convey on behalf of the government and supporting parties that we have decided our candidate", Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi told reporters here when asked to comment on the Third Front efforts to put up Kalam for a second term in office.
It was up to Kalam whether he would entertain a delegation of Third Front leaders on the issue after the Prime Minister having made it clear that the ruling coalition and its supporting parties had already decided on Pratibha Patil.
Taking exception to the use of the word "certainty" by Rashtrapati Bhavan in the context of a second term for Kalam, Dasmunsi said it was "very unfortunate" that such words were being used.
"Never in the history a memorandum or a deputation to persuade somebody to become a candidate (for Presidential election) has been done and nor should it be", he said, adding it was "against the culture and tradition".
"No such communication should come with certainty. Certainty is a definitive word and has other meanings, which I feel is unfortunate", Dasmunsi said.
A Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesman had on Wednesday said that "The President told them (leaders of UNPA) during the course of discussion as there is an overwhelming love and affection of people from all sections of society and from all parts of the country I can accept a second term of Presidency provided there is certainty about this."
Asked whether government was embarrassed with this development, he skirted a reply saying, "Anybody who can muster 50 proposers and 50 seconders from among legislators can contest".
Dasmunsi asserted that there was "no question of going back" on putting up Patil for the top post and claimed that "the UPA coalition is getting support from some more quarters".
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