He said his mission in life was to work for the development of the country which he will continue to do wherever he will be.

New Delhi, June 22
With the eight-party regional grouping of the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) failing to come up with a ‘magic potion’ ensuring a certain victory for President A P J Abdul Kalam, the first scientist Head of State decided here this evening to steer clear and return to his first love of academics.

After "reviewing the situation from all angles," Kalam told the UNPA leaders, when they called on him to report to him their inability to forge a wider consensus in his favour, that he is not interested in contesting for a second term.

Kalam stressed that he did not want Rashtrapati Bhawan to be involved in any political process. While thanking the UNPA leaders for their initiative, he said his mission in life is to work for the development of the country which he will continue to do wherever he will be. He thanked the people of the country for their overwhelming love and affection.

Realising the futility of their endeavours over the past 72 hours, UNPA's N.Chandrababu Naidu announced, simultaneously as Rashtrapati Bhawan issued a press note, that Kalam has decided not to contest the Presidential poll.

UNPA leaders disclosed that Kalam appeared upset over having come under attack from the Congress, Left, RJD, NCP and LJP leaders for dragging his feet and seeking to reconsider his earlier decision that he will not put his hat in the ring if a political consensus was lacking.

The UNPA also brought to the fore their predilections in backing either the UPA-Left-BSP nominee or the candidate backed by the BJP for the President's post. It was apparent that at this juncture they had no option but to abstain from voting in the Presidential election or put up a candidate on their own hoping some advantage accrues to NDA nominee Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat . They will discuss among themselves and decide their strategy soon as there was still time till June 30 for filing the nomination papers.

UPA leaders have been trumpeting that the outcome of the ensuing Presidential contest was a foregone conclusion. They maintained that the UPA-Left-BSP nominee Pratibha Devisingh Patil will win by a comfortable margin and is all set to become the country's first woman President. DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi too contributed his bit by criticising the UNPA leaders for misleading Kalam when the latter had reportedly told him two months back that he will not join the race for President’s post.

For now and as expected there is going to be a direct contest between Patil and Shekhawat, even though the latter had hinted at withdrawing from the race if Kalam agreed to contest. Shekhawat, contesting as an independent, has not brightened his chances and this might be the first election that he will lose in his chequered political career.

CPM leader Sitaram Yechuri regretted Kalam's observation to the UNPA leaders that he is ready to fight if the victory is certain. He dismissed Kalam being described as a Peoples' President on the basis of SMS poll and surveys which did not reflect popular sentiment. “Those talking of people’s power are in cyber space and not in real space”, he said.