New Delhi: The race to elect the country's next President took intriguing turns today with the Third Front springing a surprise by favouring a second term for incumbent A P J Abdul Kalam who may contest against UPA-Left nominee Pratibha Patil if he finds "prospects bright".

On a day of unexpected twists, the NDA expectedly announced its support for Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. Interestingly though, Shekhawat endorsed another term for Kalam for which "total unanimity of all political parties is an imperative". After issuing a brief statement to that effect late in the night, Shekhawat drove to former Prime Minister and NDA Chairman Atal Bihari Vajpayee's residence and discussed the latest situation.

As the Third Front leaders met in Chennai under the banner of United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA), Vajpayee announced NDA's decision to back Shekhawat as an independent candidate, hailing him as "truly secular" personality who was "the most qualified and suitable candidate" for the high office.

A worrying development for the BJP-led NDA was the silence on the part of crucial ally Shiv Sena, which reserved its decision in view of the fact that Patil hailed from Maharashtra and the party favours top post for Maharashtrians.

From Chennai, AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa, who hosted a meeting of the leaders of including TDP's Chandrababu Naidu and Samajwadi Party's Mulayam Singh Yadav, announced the Front's intention to back Kalam for a second term. The leaders will meet him in Delhi on Wednesday to persuade Kalam to fight the election. Sources said that Kalam would consider contesting the election "if the prospects are bright (for him)".

In the evening, Shekhawat came out with a statement, noting with gratification the Third Front's announcement on Kalam. "Nothing would give me greater satisfaction than the President so consenting. For this, total unanimity of all parties is an imperative. I would be happy if that were achieved," he said, adding the high offices of the Republic should be above political contention and controversy. "These (high offices) are of onerous responsibility which must be discharged with due seriousness and dignity. I have not been found wanting in this regard for the last 55 years and will not be now found so wanting," he said.

Putting a brave front in the face of the decision by the non-BJP, non-Congress grouping, the NDA today spoke of conscience vote which it said was sure to carry Shekhawat through the battle for Raisina Hills. "There are close to 11 lakh voters (value of votes in the electoral college). It is open to all and anybody can approach anyone irrespective of party affiliations," NDA spokesperson for the election Sushma Swaraj told reporters.

The UPA-Left got down to business with plans being made for Patil to visit various states.

Amidst reports that some of the parties in the new alliance could have no objection to supporting Shekhawat as an independent candidate, Jayalalithaa told a questioner that many parties had "reservations" in supporting his candidature.