Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee has clarified that he has no desire to run for the post of President of India as has been reported by the media quoting Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.
Media reports had quoted Mamata as saying that she thought Vajpapyee had the right credentials to be President when outgoing President A P J Abdul Kalam declined to do so.
'Newspapers carried reports on Wednesday about some suggestions that I should stand as a candidate for the post of President. I want to state categorically that I have no desire to occupy that office. The National Democratic Alliance will announce its choice for the post shortly," the former prime minister said in a statement late Wednesday night.
Earlier, senior party leaders had told media persons in private conversations that Vajpayee's candidature should not be taken seriously. His statement brings Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat back into focus as the party's probable candidate for the top post.