Kalam's candidature a closed chapter: Mulayam

Lucknow, June 18 (IANS) Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav Monday reiterated that his party's support to UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee was full and final and termed former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's refusal to contest a "closed chapter".

Declining to be drawn into the political activity related to the presidential election and Kalam's stand, he said there was no point of discussing a "bygone issue".

Asked to comment on Kalam, Mulayam Singh said this was a "samapt adhyay" (closed chapter) and there was no need to respond to it. He added that for his party, the only factor that remained was the outcome of the July 19 presidential polls.

"We have given full support to Pranab Mukherjee and it is just a matter of result being announced," he added.

To queries that that there could be a contest for the next occupant of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Mulayam Singh said if elections were imminent, then so be it.

"We have extended our support for the candidature of Pranab Babu and so have many other political parties, so our stand is clear," said the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister. He said he hoped that Mukherjee would make it to Rashtrapati Bhavan without any problem.

Kalam Monday announced that he has decided not to contest the presidential election after studying "the totality of the matter".