NDA still undecided on support for Kalam

After an inconclusive meeting between UNPA and NDA leaders, SP President Mulayam Singh Yadav says no positive reply has come so far from the NDA leaders.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Thursday kept the newly-formed third front in suspense after it declined to come out in support of President APJ Abdul Kalam for a second term and also did not commit itself on the candidature of Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

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After an inconclusive meeting between the eight-party United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) and NDA leaders, Samajwadi Party (SP) President Mulayam Singh Yadav told reporters: "No positive reply has come so far from the NDA leaders."

Asked about the outcome of the meeting, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jaswant Singh said: "We are united in one thing and that is our desire to defeat Congress."

However, he evaded replying to a question whether the NDA supported Kalam for a second term and declined to speak on the NDA-supported independent candidate Shekhawat.

But, Trinamool Congress (TRC) leader Dinesh Trivedi said, "if Kalam agrees, we (NDA) are all for him."

The UNPA leaders, including Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) President and former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala and Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh held a meeting with former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other NDA leaders.