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BJP backs Sangma as presidential candidate | The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday backed former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma for
the presidential poll. Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said the decision to field
Sangma against UPA nominee was taken after former President Dr. A.P. Abdul Kalam
refused to contest. "Advaniji talked to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief and Punjab
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in this regard. Badal has agreed to abide by
the decision of the BJP. So, we decided to contest and field a candidate. We had
only once choice after Dr. Kalam refused to contest, which is P.A. Sangma," said
Swaraj. "Sangma is a tall leader and the tallest leader of northeast. He had a
good term as the speaker, is a political person, and so we decided that P.A. Sangma
will be the apt candidate. So, officially on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party
we are supporting P.A. Sangma's candidature," she added, while justifying the
BJP's choice for the coveted post. Swaraj also recalled that the BJP had informed
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi during the last presidential polls, when it decided
to field Dr. Kalam. "The pre-requisite of consensus is prior consultation. They
(Congress Party) should have adopted the prior consultation process for a consensus,
which they did not. So, being the main opposition party, the Bharatiya Janata
Party, has decided to field a candidate for the presidential poll," she said.
Swaraj, however, said BJP's two allies Shiv Sena and Janata Dal-United are still
not in favour of having a candidate to contest the presidential poll. When asked
to comment on the delay in deciding upon a presidential candidate, Swaraj said:
"We were trying to bring all the alliance partners on board. We could not do that.
And still we are trying, but we thought that the time is appropriate to announce
at least on behalf of BJP and Akali Dal. That's why we are announcing it today,
there is no delay. Nomination papers will be filed on 30th, there is no delay."
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik
had announced their support for Sangma last month. Sangma is contesting the presidential
poll as a candidate of the Tribal Forum of India. The presidential elections will
be held on July 19. The vote count will take place on July 22. Pratibha Devisingh
Patil's term as President ends on July 24. |
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