The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has sprung a surprise by coming out in open support for a second term to incumbent A P J Abdul Kalam, almost eight months ahead of the Presidential race.
The announcement by the main opposition party has come at a time when the climate is warming up for the assembly polls in four states, including Uttar Pradesh where Muslims are a key factor.
Political observers recall the fact that it was UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, who brought Kalam as the dark horse at the last minute for the top slot when the then ruling National Democratic Alliance had almost zeroed in on late Vice President Krishan Kant.
Kant was then thought of a consensus candidate as the then Maharashtra Governor P C Alexander was not acceptable to the Congress despite his association with Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. Things appear to be moving on the next year's Presidential elections with BJP chief Rajnath Singh and party stalwarts A B Vajpayee, L K Advani and Jaswant Singh as also
NDA Convener George Fernandes having met Kalam last week. That created speculation that the leaders discussed with Kalam the possibility of his entering the race because there was no briefing on their meeting.
Singh fired the first shot in the battle for next year's Presidential elections with his appointment in Varanasi on Thursday that the BJP will back Kalam for a second term.
The BJP and the Samajwadi Party along with TDP had worked in tandem in the Presidential polls last time and Yadav had even come out of the People's Front he had floated along with the Left parties, which had put up the late Capt Lakshmi Sehgal as its nominee.
The BJP's move now has come at a time when the names of senior Congress leaders Karan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjeee as also Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who incidentally had been associated with the saffron party for five decades, are doing the rounds.
If the 'Dalit card' gains momentum, Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde can turn out to be the dark horse. The former Maharashtra Chief Minister's name also figures in the probables for the next Vice-President as Shekhawat is retiring in August.
In fact, Shinde had contested unsuccessfully against Shekhawat in the 2002 polls as a combined opposition candidate handpicked by Gandhi. Congress circles say in private that the top job should go to someone from the party or the one chosen by it and it was averse to give it to someone else.
But on record the ruling party is merely saying that no decision has been taken. The race for Raisina Hill is expected to hot up after the assembly polls in four states, including Uttar Pradesh.
Though Kalam has ruled himself out for a second term, an opinion poll carried by a news weekly saw him getting 'overwhelming' support.
While returning from his recent foreign tour, Vice President Shekhawat threw enough hints that he was not averse to having a go at the top office saying age was no hurdle for him. The 84-year-old leader's handling of the affairs of the Rajya Sabha has earned him all round kudos, including from the Congress side.
Chatterjee is the first presiding officer of the Lok Sabha belonging to the Left parties which may be keen on having one of their leaders occupy the top slot. Some sections even believe that Infosys mentor N R Narayana Murthy, who also hails from the South like Kalam and enjoys an image like him among the youth, could spring a surprise if he has the inclination.
