Ruling out withdrawal from the Presidential fray, NCP leader P.A. Sangma on Monday said if necessary he would contest as an Independent and 'not let down' Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who have backed him.
"There is no going back. I will not let madam Jayalalithaa and Naveen Patnaik down which would mean that if necessary I would contest as an Independent," he told TimesNow.
Sangma, a former Lok Sabha Speaker, said he had sought appointments with political leaders including Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to press for a tribal candidate for the post of the President.
"But in the meantime, two powerful chief ministers Jayalalithaa and Naveen Patnaik have publicly announced support for my candidature," the NCP general secretary said.
"Therefore the situation is completely different. Now that these two leaders have openly supported and I have indications from other political parties which will be known in a couple of days. Now that I have decided to contest supported by two very strong regional powers. There is no going back," Sangma said.