Sangma seeks repeat of 1969 presidential poll

"The result of the 1969 Presidential elections was different. Indira Gandhi called for conscience vote and conscience vote had won. This is the second time there is a keen contest," Sangma said at a news conference.

In the 1969 poll, Congress' official presidential nominee Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy lost to V V Giri, backed by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi who had given a call for conscience vote.

He said his appeal to both Shiv Sena and Janata Dal(U) still stands. The two parties have pledged to support the UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee.

On her daughter Agatha, a UPA minister, Sangma said, "Agatha is a mature person. She can take her decision."

Presidential elections are fought by independent candidates and party whips did not work there under Schedule ten of the Constitution, he said.

Sangma sought to evoke tribal sentiments when he reminded how as Lok Sabha Speaker he had installed the statue of tribal icon Birsa Munda in Parliament making it the first statue of a tribal freedom fighter.

"As a union minister, whenever I came to Ranchi, I used to garland the statue of Birsa Munda," he added.

On his meeting with JMM supremo Shibu Soren and Deputy Chief Minister and AJSU party president Sudesh Mahto, Sangma said they have assured him that their parties would take a decision in a few days.