Support tribal Sangma, Jaya appeals to parties

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Following up on her announcement of support for former Lok Sabha Speaker P.A. Sangma to be the next President, chief minister Jayalalithaa made a fervent appeal to all parties Friday to “rise above political considerations” and support his candidature in the July poll.

The tribal leader might have the backing of Ms Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK and her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik’s BJD, but his own Nationalist Congress Party has ruled out support.

Mr Sangma told reporters after meeting Sharad Pawar Friday morning that the NCP chief made it clear since the party was part of UPA it could not take an independent stand.

However, Mr Sangma said Mr Pawar promised to discuss all suggestions made by him. He said he explained to the NCP chief he was part of a forum pushing for a tribal to become the next President.

Mr Sangma said there were several other tribal leaders, including Lok Sabha deputy speaker Karia Munda (BJP), Union minister Krishna Chandra Deo (Congress) and former Nagaland CM S.C. Jamir (Congress).

“Any tribal leader can become the next President, that is what we are trying to achieve,” he said.
NCP has been a key constituent of UPA since May 2004 and shares power with Congress in Maharashtra.

Mr Pawar holds the important agriculture portfolio at the Centre and had recently met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, who has been holding consultations with allies on the presidential election.