New Delhi:
In what may be seen as a counter-strategy to Former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma's demand for a tribal President, a group of Congress Members of Parliament (MPs), led by former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, have voiced tribal aspirations for the post in the forthcoming presidential polls. In a press conference in Delhi this morning, Mr Jogi snubbed Mr Sangma's campaign for support, and said he should wait for the UPA to come up with their final choice of candidate.
Mr Sangma currently enjoys the support of J Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK and Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and is hoping to garner the support of all parties. Mr Sangma has demanded that the President must be a Tribal leader.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has appealed to all parties to "rise above political differences" and back the leader from the tribal community. She has personally held talks with BJP leader LK Advani, CPM leader Prakash Karat, CPI leader AB Bardhan, TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav in a bid to garner support for Mr Sangma. But Mulayam Singh has reportedly said no to backing Sangma as one of the candidates for the post.
Mr Sangma earlier met CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat to drum up support for his Presidential bid. He said Ms Jayalalithaa and Naveen Patnaik have already spoken to Karat regarding his candidature. However, the Left parties have kept in him waiting by saying they won't speculate on a candidate but want a wide consensus.
The Congress is holding consultations with its allies to evolve a consensus and the BJP is also trying to rally support among NDA allies on a common choice for the presidential polls due in July this year. While the names of Vice President Hamid Ansari and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee have been doing the rounds as front runners for President's post, there has been no official word on it from the Congress.
Mr Sangma currently enjoys the support of J Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK and Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and is hoping to garner the support of all parties. Mr Sangma has demanded that the President must be a Tribal leader.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has appealed to all parties to "rise above political differences" and back the leader from the tribal community. She has personally held talks with BJP leader LK Advani, CPM leader Prakash Karat, CPI leader AB Bardhan, TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav in a bid to garner support for Mr Sangma. But Mulayam Singh has reportedly said no to backing Sangma as one of the candidates for the post.
Mr Sangma earlier met CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat to drum up support for his Presidential bid. He said Ms Jayalalithaa and Naveen Patnaik have already spoken to Karat regarding his candidature. However, the Left parties have kept in him waiting by saying they won't speculate on a candidate but want a wide consensus.
The Congress is holding consultations with its allies to evolve a consensus and the BJP is also trying to rally support among NDA allies on a common choice for the presidential polls due in July this year. While the names of Vice President Hamid Ansari and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee have been doing the rounds as front runners for President's post, there has been no official word on it from the Congress.
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