BJP is insulting Kalam: Lalu

Lalu says BJP knows that United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Pratibha Patil has a clear edge.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was only "insulting" President APJ Abdul Kalam in suggesting his candidature while it knows well that United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Pratibha Patil has a clear edge, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said on Tuesday.

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"It is nothing but an insult to President Kalam when the BJP says that it will support Kalam for a second term. The BJP knows it well that the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) support was not for his second term and the UPA has already declared its candidate for the post," Lalu Prasad said.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal chief was reacting to BJP president Rajnath Singh's remarks.

"Parties should work for evolving a consensus for a second straight term for President Kalam, if he (Kalam) expresses interest, and if a consensus is achieved, the BJP will go for Kalam," Rajanth Singh told reporters in Raipur on Tuesday.

Lalu Prasad said Patil would win the July 19 election without any difficulty. "The BJP knows that there is a gap of over 100,000 votes between the UPA supported candidate and their candidate," he said.