The Bhartiya Janta Party has decided to support PA Sangma for the post of President. The Akali Dal is with BJP in backing him. Speaking to the media, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said Sangma is a prestigious leader in the country and a very tall leader in the North-East.
BJP were happy to back Sangma for the job, she added. She further said that BJP will not give Congress a walkover in the President poll. She also said that it is not essential that President should be elected unanimously, as there have been contest for the President’s post a number of times.
Sushma also said that NDA was still undecided on presidential candidate. NDA met over the issue more than ones but we could not come to a consensus with all our allies, she said. The JD-U and the Shiv Sena are not in agreement with us on President candidate.
Arun Jaitley also said nearly the same thing in front of the media. He also requested all NDA constituents to back Sangma.
Meanwhile, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) today announced its support to United Progressive Alliance (UPA) presidential nominee Pranab Mujherjee.
Soon after the BJP pledged its support to former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma, JD-U chief Sharad Yadav said his party “has decided to support Pranab Mukherjee for president”.
He said the JD-U did not want a contest for the post of president and it had tried to convince the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to go for an unanimous choice.
“Given the present political situation, my party has decided to support Pranab Mukherjee,” Yadav said.
He, however, expressed disappointment that the UPA did not consult all parties to reach a consensus for presidential elections and for talking to other parties only after announcing its candidate.
