Sangma ignores NCP's advice, to be in Presidential race

Ignoring advice from his party, NCP leader P A Sangma today said he continues to be in the fray for the Presidential election as a tribal candidate.

"I am in the fray as a tribal candidate, not as a NCP candidate," Sangma, a former Lok Sabha Speaker, told reporters here.

Sangma pointed out that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had proposed his name as a candidate for the Presidential poll.

Asked about A P J Kalam's candidature, the NCP leader said that he felt that the former President will not enter the fray.

"Kalam has been President once. He will not take such a risk," Sangma said.

NCP General Secretary D P Tripathi today met Sangma and told him that the party will support the UPA candidate in the Presidential poll, suggesting that he opt out of the race.

The development came a day after NCP leader Sharad Pawar met Congress President Sonia Gandhi and amid indications that the Presidential election could become a keen affair with TMC leader Mamata Banerjee pitching for Kalam.