Sonia wants rubber stamp president: Swamy

Lucknow: Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy Thursday accused Congress president Sonia Gandhi of wanting "a rubber stamp as the next president" and said A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was best suited for the job.

Charging Gandhi with blocking good names for presidency, Swamy said the country looked towards political parties to elect "an illustrious, honest and respectable man" to occupy the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Swamy spoke after meeting Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav here in view of the presidential polls scheduled next month.

Addressing a press conference later, Swamy called for another term for Kalam, who was the president from 2002 to 2007.

He said Kalam was immensely respected by people of all age groups. "I think that Kalam is the most suited person to occupy Rashtrapati Bhawan."

If all opposition parties unite and select one candidate, the ruling party's candidate is sure to be defeated, he said.

Source : MSN