UPA starts race to Raisina Hill

Sonia proposes Patil's name; NDA says ready to support Kalam if he agrees.

The political process for electing the next President was set into motion today with the UPA-Left starting the process for nominating Pratibha Patil.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi proposed Patil's name in the presence of Union ministers Priyaranjan Dasmunshi and Prithviraj Chavan.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to second Patil's name. After this, Dasmunshi will visit Chennai and Lucknow to get the signatures of the allies ""DMK chief M Karunanidhi and BSP president Mayawati.

The NDA, meanwhile, grappled with the consequences of the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) naming President APJ Abdul Kalam as their preferred choice.

BJP spokesperson Sushma Swaraj tried to explain that although the party did think of backing Kalam, the Congress and the Left's refusal forced them to consider another candidate.

"Bhairon Singh Shekhawat is, was and will be our candidate in case of a contest. It is up to the Congress to tell whether it supports Kalam. As you know, the NDA had asked President Kalam if he would like to go for a second term. The President said only if all major political parties supported his candidature would he be interested. When the Congress and the Left started looking for another candidate, we had to do the same," she said.

"As Shekhawatji has said, even if President Kalam wishes to contest now, we are ready to support him, provided the Congress withdraws Patil's name," she said. Shekhawat had yesterday indicated that he would withdraw if Kalam agreed.

Swaraj asked why the Congress and the Left were so much against Kalam. "As countless surveys and opinion polls have suggested, Kalam is popular with the people, who will like to see him get a second term. Why are the Congress and the Left so reluctant?" she added.

The BJP's ally, the Shiv Sena, will announce its decision on whom to support on June 25.

The UNPA is expected to meet the President tomorrow. According to top sources in Rashtrapati Bhavan, Kalam is not keen to contest an election he is bound to lose and is upset at the speculation over his candidature.

He had earlier indicated that he would like to go back to teaching after his stint at Rashtrapati Bhavan.