By IANS
New Delhi : With President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam deciding not to contest a second term Friday, the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) sounded optimistic that the Third Front would support its candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat against United Progressive Alliance (UPA) nominee Pratibha Patil.
Soon after Kalam's decision, which was conveyed to a delegation of the Front or United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh said the UNPA was considering supporting Shekhawat.
Shekhawat is contesting as an independent candidate.
Kalam conveyed his decision not to contest when a delegation of UNPA met him for a second time in three days. The delegation comprised AIADMK chief J. Jayalalitha, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, Samajwadi Party leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader and former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala and MDMK chief Vaiko.
A Rashtrapati Bhavan statement said: "After discussions on the presidential election, the President told the delegation that after considering their request and reviewing the situation carefully from all angles, he has decided that in the current scenario he will not be interested in running for the second term as he does not want Rashtrapati Bhavan to become involved in any political process. Dr. Kalam thanked the UNPA for its initiative.
"Dr. Kalam also told them that his mission in life is to work for development of the country which he will continue to do wherever he will be.
"The President also thanks the people of India for the overwhelming love and affection towards him," the statement said.