New Delhi:
In the race to the Raisina Hill for the next President of India, Former Lok Sabha speaker and NCP leader PA Sangma met BJP Leader LK Advani in Delhi today, seeking the party's support for his candidature before he files his nomination next week.
Mr Sangma, hoping to be become the first tribal leader to become the President of the country, currently enjoys the support of J Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK and Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal (BJD). Mr Sangma has demanded that the President must be a Tribal leader. He has been approaching political parties to back his nomination, but has not been able to garner enough support yet to win the election.
Earlier, Ms Jayalalithaa had appealed to all parties to "rise above political differences" and back the leader from the tribal community. She had 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 denied to back Mr Sangma as one of the candidates for the post.
The election for President is a significant battle ahead of the general elections in 2014, and offers the BJP a chance to take on the Congress. The BJP has said it will not support a Congress-backed candidate. But even its key ally, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has indicated that his party would be in favour of supporting a candidate who is accepted by most parties.
The President is selected by a system of proportional representation. The votes of MPs are put at par with those of elected members in different state legislatures. This gives considerable say to regional parties who have delivered impressive results in recent elections like Ms Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and the Samajwadi Party.
The current President Pratibha Patil's term ends in July this year.
Mr Sangma, hoping to be become the first tribal leader to become the President of the country, currently enjoys the support of J Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK and Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal (BJD). Mr Sangma has demanded that the President must be a Tribal leader. He has been approaching political parties to back his nomination, but has not been able to garner enough support yet to win the election.
Earlier, Ms Jayalalithaa had appealed to all parties to "rise above political differences" and back the leader from the tribal community. She had 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 denied to back Mr Sangma as one of the candidates for the post.
The election for President is a significant battle ahead of the general elections in 2014, and offers the BJP a chance to take on the Congress. The BJP has said it will not support a Congress-backed candidate. But even its key ally, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has indicated that his party would be in favour of supporting a candidate who is accepted by most parties.
The President is selected by a system of proportional representation. The votes of MPs are put at par with those of elected members in different state legislatures. This gives considerable say to regional parties who have delivered impressive results in recent elections like Ms Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and the Samajwadi Party.
The current President Pratibha Patil's term ends in July this year.
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