BJP supports Kalam for presidentship

With less than a year left before the next presidential elections, the BJP seems to have set the cat among the pigeons by suggesting that it will support President APJ Abdul Kalam if he desires a second term.

"We have always believed that President APJ Abdul Kalam has added to the dignity of the office of President and if he wishes to run a second time, we are with him," BJP President Rajnath Singh said.

The BJP's support to Kalam is baffling as Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, vice-president a senior party leader, has made it clear that he too will be interested in running for the post.

The Congress, caught unawares, can only fumble. Top sources in the BJP say support to Kalam is part of a strategy to trap the Congress into opening its cards on the presidential elections.

"The Congress is not expected to do well in the next few Assembly elections, hence the arithmetic of the presidential elections is interestingly poised. In this situation, the BJP is trying to get the Congress into either supporting Kalam, with whom they are comfortable, or come out with a candidate soon," he added.

Those in the fray of hopefuls include Shekhawat, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Karan Singh.

Some Congressmen say the only way for the party to counter this is to bring in another Muslim candidate, who also happens to be a woman. Mohsina Kidwai's name is making the rounds in this regard.