New Delhi: June 21m 2007 (Thursday) - Pratibha Patil  called on President APJ Abdul Kalam here today and  submitted  her resignation as Rajasthan Governor. By doing so, she paved the way for her presidential bid. But President Kalam’s agreeing to go for the 2nd term in office of the President with an express condition of certainty, has weakened the position of Pratibha Patil politically, irrespective of the further changes in the scenario like CPI (M) not agreeing to support Kalam. 

President Kalam's willingness to contest for a second term if victory is certain has drawn criticism from the UPA., as aper NDTV report.

The Congress has criticised President Kalam for his last minute change of heart on running for a second term. It said his statement on Wednesday was unfortunate.

In a related development, the CPI(M) has rejected the UNPA's proposal to support President Kalam for a second term.

Earlier, leaders of the UNPA, who are pushing for a second term for Kalam, met with CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat on Thursday.

In a statement, the CPM Politburo said that ''Prakash Karat informed the UNPA leaders that the CPI(M) has already decided to extend its support to the UPA nominee Pratibha Patil, and in view of this, the matter cannot be considered.''

''The UNPA leaders had come to meet us. They wanted us to consider Kalam as a presidential candidate. But we informed them that we had officially rejected Kalam and it was too late for us to reconsider it,'' said Sitaram Yechury, Politburo Member, CPI(M).

Third Front leaders also met with CPI leader AB Bardhan, and according to reports, the CPI has also rejected their proposal to support Kalam.

President Kalam told Third Front leaders on Wednesday that he would consider it if there was certainty of his victory.

On his part, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, a key partner of the UPA, has said that they always wanted a candidate with a political background and that Pratibha Patil has the full support of the NCP.

''The NCP stands behind Pratibha Patil. It is too late to consider President Kalam's nomination,'' said Sharad Pawar, NCP Chief.