The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on Tuesday ruled out supporting the Third Front's suggestion of a second term for President APJ Abdul Kalam.
"We are not for re-election of the incumbent president," said CPI-M leader and MP Nilotpal Basu at a news conference in Hyderabad.
He recalled that it was the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had opposed the Left parties' proposal for a second term for then president KR Narayanan in 2002 on the grounds that there should not be a second term for the president.
Basu claimed that Pratibha Patil, nominee of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the Left, was suitable for the highest post.
"The UPA candidate satisfies our conditions," he said.
The Left parties were insisting that the ruling alliance should field some one who has political background, secular credentials and a complete understanding of the Constitution to maintain the balance between the executive and judiciary.
Basu described the newly formed eight-party Third Front as a hotchpotch arrangement based on mathematical combination of the parties opposed both to the Congress and the BJP.
He observed that the Third Front did not have any programme or understanding.
{{/usCountry}}He observed that the Third Front did not have any programme or understanding.
{{/usCountry}}"The Left parties are not for the Third Front but for the third alternative which should emerge through the mass struggle, with a distinct identity and programme," he said.