Notwithstanding PA Sangma’s insistence that he is still in the Presidential race, his party the NCP today said that te former Lok Sabha speaker should opt out of the race and support ally UPA’s candidate Pranab Mukherjee instead.
NCP’s General Secretary DP Tripathi expressed confidence that Sangma will respect the party’s decision and opt out of the presidential poll.
“We have full faith in Sangma that he will fulfil the promise of abiding by the party decision and support the UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee in the Presidential Election 2012,” NCP General Secretary DP Tripathi told the media.
Reuters
Sangma, despite his party’s decision, has been pressing for his candidature in the Presidential polls on the grounds of being a tribal candidate.
Last week, NCP chief Sharad Pawar had sent an emissary to Sangma with an advise to withdraw from the Presidential race.
Party sources said that Sangma could face disciplinary action if he goes ahead with his candidature.
They said his daughter Agatha Sangma, Minister of State for Rural Development, could be dropped from the Union Council of Ministers.
Earlier, NCP had warned Agatha against campaigning for her father.
Meanwhile, Telugu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu said his party has not decided on the presidential candidate yet. “Now that Kalam is not in the race, we have to support either Pranab or Sangma. But we haven’t decided yet.”
Sangma had met Naidu on Monday and sought the party’s support for his candidature in the presidential election.
“I have sought the support and blessings of Chandrababu Naidu, who is one of the most prominent political leaders of the country. He told me that he would take a decision after discussing the issue with the TDP’s politburo,” he said.
With inputs from PTI
