Sangma hopeful of NDA support

NEW DELHI, May 22 : Presidential candidate PA Sangma is hopeful of securing the support of the NDA.

Talking to newsmen, Sangma, whose candidature has been supported by Chief Ministers of Odissa and Tamil Nadu, Naveen Patnaik and J Jayalalitha, said that the BJP is likely to take up the issue at its Mumbai meeting later this week.

He has urged the BJP Speaker of Assam to help him in this regards and press upon the Party’s Central leadership to endorse his candidature. The NDA is expected to meet in New Delhi after the national executive of BJP to decide on its candidate.

The former Lok Sabha Speaker also appealed to North East MP’s Forum support his candidature cutting across political lines. The MPs of Nagaland, Sikkim and Mizoram have already extended their support.

However, the appeal is unlikely to cut much ice, as smaller regional parties like AGP and AIUDF are waiting to see which way the wind blows. BPF an ally of Congress though is clear about supporting the Congress nominee. Rajya Sabha MP Biswajeet Daimary, when asked replied that they are not going to support Sangma’s candidature.

Instead of pushing his own case, he should have tried to prevail upon the ruling UPA to evolve a consensus on selecting a tribal candidate for the highest Constitutional post, said the Bodo MP.

Meanwhile, Sangma said Union Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee was too capable for the post and it would be a waste to talent for him to be elected as President.