Sangma congratulates Mukherjee, does not rule out moving court

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P.A. Sangma on Sunday congratulated Pranab Mukherjee and wished him success but did not rule out moving court on the election, saying its process was "exceptionally partisan." He alleged that non-UPA ruled states were lured with packages and inducements and even given threats.

Sangma, who was backed by BJP and some other parties, said there is a compelling need for formulating an election code of conduct for the Presidential and Vice Presidential polls, as such a code did not exist.

A code will ensure free and fair elections, he said. "The process in this Presidential election has been exceptionally partisan and political."

"The public perception is certainly that in identification and projection of its candidate, UPA did not genuinely build consensus and that it pursuaded political parties commanding major sections of the Presidential electoral college by economic and other packages...as well as inducements, threats and promises," Sangma told reporters here. He alleged that the spirit of secrecy of ballot was "thrown to the wind".

"For election to the Lok Sabha and Assembly, there is a code of conduct for free and fair elections. Such a code of conduct does not exist for Presidential and Vice Presidential elections...Rs 57,000 crore were given to UP, Rs 27,000 crore to Bihar and so many other things have happened," Sangma said.

Not ruling out moving the Supreme Court on the election, he said, "We are meeting a day after tomorrow to review the whole situation where this matter will come up for discussion."

Sangma said the posts of the President and the Prime Minister were such that there should not be any kind of public perception which goes contrary to the sanctity of the chairs. On moving court, Sangma said, "For the survival of democracy, logically it should be... but I have not taken a final decision...The day after tomorrow we will meet and take a final decision."

To a question if 'illegal' means were used in the election, Sangma claimed, "Everybody knows that the so called economic packages have gone in a very big way. We all know that there have been some threats..., be it Mulayam Singh, Mayawati..." Sangma, who played the tribal card to garner support in the Presidential race, said the nation has "lost a golden opportunity to demonstrate its solidarity with tribals".

He expressed concern over lesser number of votes polled in his favour in north eastern states. "...That people of the north east are no more capable of standing on their own feet. They are 100 per cent dependent on the central assistance.

They cannot afford to go against the central government. They are even losing their identity. It is a very dangerous trend. Tribals from the north east have to certainly wake up and think over it," he said. On cross-voting in Karnataka, which went against him, he said he was aware of the problem there.

"I personally expected something may go wrong. It happens in election," he said. Sangma said in a democracy everybody cannot be a winner. "Somebody has to lose, that is the game of democracy," he added.