With former Speaker and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Purno A Sangma’s name being proposed for President, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has clarified that Sangma is not the party’s candidate for the top post. Significantly, Sangma’s name is backed by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), both supporting him as a tribal leader.
The NCP has made it clear that “it is a responsible United Progressive Alliance (UPA) ally” and will be supporting the UPA’s consensus candidate. NCP maintains Sangma is a senior NCP leader and there are no strained relations with him.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar, when asked about Sangma’s candidature, said, “I am not aware of any such development. Sangma has not spoken to us. We have had no discussion on the issue. We feel with such a limited strength, our party cannot aspire for such a major post.”
Rajya Sabha member and NCP leader D P Tripathi, speaking to Business Standard, said, “We are a responsible constituent of the UPA. We will go by whatever stand the UPA takes.” Asked if disciplinary action will be taken against Sangma, Tripathi said, “He (Sangma) is a working committee member of the NCP parliamentary party. He has mentioned to us that a tribal forum has proposed his name.”
Meanwhile, AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa stepped up her support for Sangma urging “all political parties to rise above political considerations and support Sangma and ensure that he becomes the next President of India.”