JD-U NOT keen on Kalam as President

Against the backdrop of dramatic twists and turns in the Presidential race, key National Democratic Alliance ally Janata Dal-United on Thursday refrained from making its stand clear on the issue saying the United Progressive Alliance [ Images ] should first settle it within itself.

"Let the Congress first decide, Mamata Banerjee [ Images ] is part of UPA alliance, Mulayam Singh Yadav's [ Images ] party is part of UPA and right now this controversy is raging in the UPA fold," JD-U spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari said.

"Let first UPA settle it and then we will take a view. Let Sonia Gandhi [ Images ] formally announce a name then they will decide on the name," he said.

Sources in the party felt that the choice of APJ Abdul Kalam [ Images ] in the race was "unusual". They said it is the first time that the name of a former president has come up.

"Pros and cons will have to be considered before taking a decision as before there is no such example. Rajendra Prasad was India's [ Images ] president for two times but he was in secession. Generally a former president is not projected," a senior leader said.