MPC leaders said that they decided to vote for Sangma as he was a tribal from the north eastern region and also a Christian.
"It is high time that the country has a president from the scheduled tribe and also a Christian," they said after a meeting of the party high command led by Lalhmangaiha Sailo, the son of former chief minister Brig T Sailo.
The MPC has two legislators in the 40-member assembly. With each MLA having eight votes, the MPC has 16 votes.