Author: Our Special Correspondent
Publication: The Hindu
Date: June 13, 2002
The Chief Minister, A.K. Antony,
who is also a prominent member of the Congress Working Committee, has backed
the candidature of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as the next President of India.
Mr. Antony, who could not make it
to the CWC meeting in Delhi owing to his preoccupation with the Assembly
session which began today, rang up the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi,
and informed her of his opinion.
The Chief Minister told presspersons
after the Cabinet meeting that he had conveyed his opinion on Dr. Kalam's
candidature to the High Command. He did not wish to disclose it or discuss
the matter in public.
He is understood to have told Ms.
Gandhi that Dr. Kalam's candidature should be viewed from a different level.
The contributions he had made to
the nation's progress, his wide acceptability among all sections, including
intellectuals, should also be considered.
Replying to a question, Mr. Antony
said that he was not aware of any objection from the part of the Congress
to a member of a minority community becoming the President.
He said that the constituents of
the United Democratic Front were free to take their own stand on voting
in the Presidential election. The UDF would not be taking a common decision
in the matter. In the past also, that was not the practice.
Mr. Antony's views should be viewed
in the backdrop of the IUML supremo, Panakkad Sayyed Mohammedali Sihab
Thangal's statement welcoming the move to nominate Dr. Kalam as a consensus
candidate.
In fact, by expressing its views
about the presidential candidate, the IUML broke ranks with the Congress,
with which it was in alliance at the State and national levels.
Mr. Antony's support to Dr. Kalam
has for the time being averted a major rift with the IUML, which has been
his staunch supporter in the UDF.
This is the first time in several
years that the IUML is deviating from its position as an alliance partner.
The party obviously did not wait till the Congress formulated its view
to announce its stand.
Interestingly, Mr. Antony has expressed
his support at a time when the Congress leadership is still undecided about
its response to the proposal to nominate Dr. Kalam.
In the meantime, the IUML All-India
general secretary, E. Ahmed, welcomed the nomination of Dr. Kalam as the
next President. Toeing the line of his party supremo, Mr. Thangal, Mr.
Ahmed said that even though Dr. Kalam's nomination had come up as part
of an attempt to settle the differences in the ruling NDA, his nomination
was the most apt one under the given circumstances.
He said Dr. Kalam had made valid
contributions to the nation and his appointment would add to the prestige
of the highest office in the country.
