By IANS,
New Delhi: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar Saturday said party leader P. Sangma, also in the fray as presidential candidate, will respect the party’s decision on the top constitutional post. The party will meet on this matter next Thursday.
“He (Sangma) is a senior leader of the party, he has been the Lok Sabha speaker. I am sure if the party takes any decision, he will respect that,” Pawar told reporters.
A partner in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), the NCP has maintained its support for Congress’s presidential candidate union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
Sangma, who could be expelled from his party if he goes ahead against Mukherjee, has received support from the Biju Janata Dal and the AIADMK. He is also eyeing support from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
“We will convince him to withdraw,” added Pawar.