As the National Democratic Alliance struggled to firm up a decision on its support to P.A. Sangma in the Presidential poll, leader of its one of its constituent on Wednesday met the former Lok Sabha Speaker and claimed consensus in the opposition alliance for his candidature.
The meeting of Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy and Mr. Sangma took place just before the latter announced his resignation from NCP.
Mr. Swamy, an ally of the NDA, said he met his old friend Mr. Sangma, the former Lok Sabha Speaker who has been named as their candidate by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Biju Janata Dal, and was told by the Nationalist Congress Party leader that he was not backing off from the Presidential race.
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Even before Mr. Sangma came out to officially delink himself from the NCP, which had asked him not to contest against United Progressive Alliance candidate Pranab Mukherjee, Mr. Swamy claimed Mr. Sangma is quitting the party.
He said the NDA meeting at senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani’s residence will take a final call on whether to support Mr. Sangma.
“Sangma is a candidate of Jayalalithaa and Naveen Patnaik and the only question that remains is whether NDA will back him. Final decision will be taken at the NDA meeting. I can only say consensus is in favour of supporting the candidate of Jayalalithaa and Patnaik,” he told reporters.
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Mr. Swamy claimed Mr. Sangma was “unhappy” with the NCP and the Congress and feels that he was insulted because he is from North-East and is a tribal.
He also claimed Mr. Sangma told him that he wanted to protect his self respect.
Mr. Swamy had earlier tried to rope in former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to enter the fray on behalf of the opposition alliance.