Bhubaneswar, July 15: Former Lok Sabha Speaker and presidential candidate P.A. Sangma today hinted at the possibility of a new political formation emerging in the country ahead of the 2014 elections.
“The original formations of the UPA and the NDA have already changed. Many new developments are going to take place on the political front,” said Sangma, who paid a brief visit to the city to meet leaders of the BJD and the BJP.
The Meghalaya strongman, who claimed tacit support of many political parties apart from those openly backing him, described this presidential election as crucial. “After 1969 polls, this is the first presidential election being fought on the principle of conscience. Even the Congress leaders will cast their votes for me,” he said.
Sangma said this presidential election had, for the first time, generated an interest among the common people. “Their involvement is unbelievable. There is a feeling that time has come to support a tribal for the top post,” he said.
The former NCP leader said that support for his candidature had been growing ever since chief minister Naveen Patnaik announced his candidature. “When the BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik announced my name, I had only 3 per cent votes. It jumped to 6 per cent after Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa announced her support. After the BJP and some other parties declared their support for me, the Congress became nervous,” he said, adding that equations would turn in his favour at the last moment.
Sangma, who visited both BJD and BJP offices in the city, refused to comment on the possibility of playing a role in bringing about a rapprochement between the two parties, which parted ways over three years ago.
Sangma, who felt that presidential election should be treated above politics, found no contradiction in both the BJD and the BJP, despite being rivals in the state, supporting his candidature. He said how arch-rivals, the BSP and the Samajwadi Party and the Congress and the Communists had joined hands to support UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee.
The former Lok Sabha Speaker was unfazed when asked about his silence during the Kandhamal riots. “One cannot generalise things. However, I have kept a watch on developments.”
Sangma, who arrived here along with Tribal Forum of India president Arvind Netam, was received by government chief whip Rabi Narayan Pani, who accompanied him to the BJD office.
At the BJD headquarters, Naveen, along with party MPs and MLAs, was waiting for him. Overwhelmed by the reception accorded to him there, Sangma said: “I am the candidate of the BJD. When the Tribal Forum of India appealed to all the political parties of the country to support a tribal candidate it was Naveen Patnaik, who responded first.”
Sangma was also effusive in his praise for the late Biju Patnaik and recalled his association with the legendary leader.
On his part, Naveen described Sangma as the fittest candidate to occupy the post of the President. Describing him as a man of erudition, Naveen said: “Regional parties are now reflecting hopes and aspirations of the common man.”
Sanjeeb Sahu, Sarada Nayak and Anjali Behere, the three ministers dropped in the wake of the failed coup against the chief minister, were present at the BJD office to welcome Sangma. Suspended BJD MLA Bibhuti Balbantray, Independent legislator Rajendra Sahu and BJD-supported Rajya Sabha member A.V. Swamy met him at the airport. However, the suspended BJD leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Pyari Mohan Mohapatra and MLA Pravat Biswal, did not turn up at the party office.
Before Sangma left for the state BJP office, Naveen took him on a ride around the city. The former Lok Sabha Speaker’s reception at the BJP office was equally warm. BJP legislature leader K.V. Singh Deo asserted that the party was united in supporting Sangma. “All of us will vote for him,” he said.
