By IANS,
New Delhi : Soon after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday announced its support to P.A. Sangma for the presidential poll, the former Lok Sabha speaker said he is very much in the race.
“I’m very much in the race. I’m not a candidate of any single political party. My name was recommended by two powerful chief ministers of the country, Naveen Patnaikji and Madam Jayalaithaa of Tamil Nadu. I am grateful to both these tall leaders,” Sangma told reporters here.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Tamil Nadu’s Jayalalithaa were the first to back Sangma for the top post, saying no tribal candidate had so far been named for the post.
“I once again appeal to all the allies of NDA (National Democratic Alliance) to support me. I’ll make my tour programme and I’ll be asking support from all the NDA and UPA (United Progressive Alliance) allies,” he said.
Asked about the fate of his daughter Agatha Sangma, a minister of state in the UPA-led government, he said: “My daughter is a part of UPA…She is the minister and a very mature person. She has the capacity of taking a decision on her own. I do not have to tell her.”