Though the UPA remains concerned about public perception supporting a second term for Kalam, the ruling combine is confident of the numbers in favour of its presidential nominee Pratibha Patil.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told Congress leaders that they should not go by “SMS polls” on TV channels. At a meeting convened by Sonia Gandhi at her residence to introduce Patil to party leaders, Mukherjee said those voting in the presidential election belonged to political parties and UPA campaign managers were aware of the numbers.

With the UPA not blinking, it is now up to Kalam to decide if he wants to run for a second term with the combined support of NDA and UNPA. Leaders of the NDA and UNPA, who met at Atal Behari Vajpayee’s house, said that if Kalam was willing to take on Patil, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat would withdraw from the race. UNPA leaders will meet Kalam again tomorrow.

UNPA’s hopes of creating fissures within the ruling alliance over Kalam were dashed as all UPA partners rejected the proposal. Close on the heels of Sonia Gandhi rebuffing the UNPA, CPI(M) and CPI followed suit and made it clear that there would be no rethinking on Patil's candidature.

The NCP too ruled out support to Kalam, asking him not to be a “player” in the presidential poll. “He will not be at the crease. So, he will not be in the game. He will not be a player,” NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who also heads the cricket control board, told reporters after signing nomination papers favouring Patil.

“The match is over for Kalam... We do not expect the game to be started again. We are very clear about that,” Pawar said. “I know him. We have worked together and he will not be there (in the fray).” Kalam served as Scientific Adviser when Pawar was Defence Minister.

RJD chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, meanwhile, advised Kalam to demit office. "Kalam should resign gracefully as it is too late for any reconsideration," Lalu said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi told reporters Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had conveyed to Kalam that the ruling alliance was putting up its own candidate. “When Prime Minister called on President after his Germany visit, he did convey on behalf of the government and supporting parties that we have decided our candidate,” he said.

Taking exception to the use of the word “certainty” by Rashtrapati Bhavan in the context of a second term for Kalam, Dasmunsi said it was “very unfortunate” that such words were being used. “Never in history a memorandum or a deputation to persuade somebody to become a candidate (for Presidential election) has been done and nor should it be”, he said, adding it was “against culture and tradition”.

Pratibha scheme extended by a year

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Thursday granted a year’s extension to the Swayam Siddha Scheme, one of Rajasthan Governor and UPA-Left presidential nominee Pratibha Patil’s pet projects for empowering women.

The scheme, earlier known as Indira Mahila Yojana, was relaunched in its current avatar in 2001, but was only implemented by the Rajasthan government at the insistence of Patil, who assumed the governor’s post in 2004.