Mamata, Mulayam spoke to Kalam before proposing his name

New Delhi, Jun 13: Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav have taken APJ Abdul Kalam into confidence before naming him as one of the presidential candidates this evening.

There was, however, no confirmation from Kalam's office. But sources in Samajwadi Party said Yadav and Banerjee had spoken with the former President before naming him along with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former Speaker Somnath Chatterjee as their presidential candidates.

Kalam, who was NDA's choice for the President's post in 2002, was also favoured initially by BJP for the top post this time around. NDA had also unsuccessfully pushed for his candidature for a second term in 2007.

Kalam has, however, maintained he would agree to enter the fray only if there is consensus on his name.

PTI