While former Lok Sabha Speaker P. Sangma has sought a debate with the UPA’s presidential nominee, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav has termed the tribal leader’s bid to contest the election for the top constitutional post a “publicity stunt”.
Mr Yadav also stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party was left with no option but to support Mr Sangma for, being the principal Opposition party, it was not even consulted by the ruling UPA before it declared its candidate.
In an interview to this newspaper, Mr Yadav said Mr Sangma is no match for Mr Mukherjee’s stature, “Sangma ka to lagta hai jaise andhe ke haath bater lag gaya hai (Sangma’s case is akin to a blind person managing to catch a quail by sheer luck).
Mr Mukherjee knows the country and can handle any situation given his vast political experience,” said Mr Yadav, while referring to Mr Sangma managing the support of the AIADMK and BJD, along with the BJP.