Jaya steps up campaign for Sangma, speaks to non-Cong leaders

Sticking to his earlier stand, Sharad Pawar, leader of NCP of which Sangma is a leader, has said his party will abide by UPA's "collective decision". Pawar maintained, "we are part of the UPA and will stick to UPA's collective decision".

Jayalalithaa, who along with Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has pitched for Sangma, spoke over telephone to Advani, Yadav, CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat, CPI leader A B Bardhan, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu, Shironmani Akali Dal leader and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, an AIADMK statement here said.

As part of the "intensified efforts" to garner support for Sangma, Jayalalithaa spoke to these leaders seeking their support for the tribal leader from the north-east who "has all the qualifications" (to become President) in the coming Presidential polls, it said.

Jayalalithaa's latest initiative comes two days after she asked all parties to "rise above political considerations," and support the tribal leader for the top job.

In a coordinated move, Jayalalithaa and her Odisha counterpart had on May 17 announced their joint support to Sangma.

The AIADMK chief had held consultations with Patnaik besides within her party before announcing her support to Sangma, who himself had called on her on May 15.PTI VS

While the names of Vice President Hamid Ansari and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee have been doing the rounds as front runners for President's post, there has been no official word on it from the Congress.

Congress is holding consultations with its allies to evolve a consensus and the BJP is also trying to rally support among NDA allies on a common choice for the presidential polls due in July this year.