Kalam congratulates Mukherjee

New Delhi, July 23 (IANS) Former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Monday congratulated Pranab Mukherjee on being elected the country's 13th president and wished him luck "to steer the nation to greater heights".

In a letter to the president-elect, Kalam said: "Please accept my hearty congratulation on your election as the 13th President of India. I wish you all the best to steer the nation to greater heights."

Mukherjee will take oath Wednesday before assuming the office of president of India and moving into Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The president-elect has held key ministerial portfolios of finance, defence and external affairs in an eventful four-decade political career.

Kalam was the president from July 25, 2002, to July 25, 2007.

Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee pushed the name of Kalam for a second term in the high office till the former president himself decided to stay out of the contest.