Orissa chief minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on Monday signed as the first proposer on the nomination paper of former Lok Sabha member P.A. Sangma who is contesting the presidential elections.
Besides, nearly 100 members, including BJD MLAs, MPs and ministers of Orissa, signed on the nomination paper brought by Conrad Sangma, the son of P.A. Sangma.
Conrad, who is also Leader of the Opposition in the Meghalaya Assembly, was on a one-day trip to Orissa to get his father’s nomination paper signed by the BJD president and the party’s MLAs and MPs.
“The Orissa chief minister Patnaik is the first person to sign on the nomination paper of P.A. Sangma as a proposer. I had come here to secure the signatures of BJD MLAs, MPs and ministers before filing of the nomination papers by Mr Sangma,” said Sangma Junior.
While 50 members signed as proposer for P.A. Sangma, 50 others seconded the nomination paper, he said. Conrad thanked the chief minister for his support to his father. He said the Orissa chief minister was the first person to announce his father’s name as the candidate for the country’s top post.
“It clearly shows his love for the tribal people and the Christian people,” Conrad said. The Orissa chief minister said since P.A. Sangma belonged to the tribal community and minority, he should get elected to the highest post of the country.
Earlier, Mr Patnaik hosted a lunch at Naveen Nivas where over 100 MLAs, MPs and ministers joined.