'It will be welcome gesture if tribal MPs, MLAs back Sangma'

"I would say that is up to them. It would be a welcome gesture. As a tribal, it would be a welcome gesture," Agatha told reporters here when repeatedly asked whether she felt all tribal MPs and MLAs should vote for her father.

Agatha was, however, guarded in her response on a number of questions related to Sangma's candidature and made it clear to reporters that she was here to participate in a meeting of tribals and they should limit their questions to it.

"I believe every Parliamentarian or every MLA has the right to choose who they want to vote for," she said.

Agatha, who is Minister of State for Rural Development, said the Opposition's Presidential nominee is a "man of integrity".

"Lot of leaders from the BJP as also from the AIADMK and the BJD have supported Mr Sangma not only because he is a tribal and represents the minority community but because they see him to be somebody who has delivered and somebody who has been a very prominent Speaker, an effective Union Minister and Chief Minister and somebody they respect as a man of integrity.

"These are the reasons why all parties have supported him," she added.