Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav had taken Kalam into confidence before naming him as one of the presidential candidates yesterday evening, sources in SP said today.
Sources close to the former President said today that he was adopting a "wait and watch" approach on the issue. Kalam has maintained he would agree to enter the fray only if there is consensus on his name.
Kalam, who was NDA's choice for the President's post in 2002, was also favoured initially by BJP for the top post this time around. NDA had also unsuccessfully pushed for his candidature for a second term in 2007.