Sangma as next President?

BHUBANESWAR/TAMILNADU: The race for Raisina Hills has got curiouser. Chief Ministers of Odisha and Tamil Nadu __ Naveen Patnaik and Jayalalithaa respectively__ on Thursday came out with an unassuming name for the post of President __ former Lok Sabha Speaker and NCP strongman of North-East P A Sangma.This comes at a time when two major national parties, BJP and Congress, have remained evasive thus fuelling  speculation.On Thursday while announcing the name, much like Sangma, Naveen too sought to play the tribal card. Tribals comprise a quarter of the State’s total population and it would be befitting to support a tribal candidate like Sangma, Naveen pointed out.Shortly later, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa issued a statement in Chennai saying her party has decided to support Sangma after due consideration. Recalling Sangma’s May 15 meeting with her, Jayalalithaa said he “not only belongs to a tribal community but is also eminently qualified to be the President of our great nation.”.The announcement comes at a time when Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee remains the front-runner though Congress is in wait-and-watch mode. However, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, apparently caught unawares, found no rationale in Sangma being in the race. “I am not aware of any such development. Sangma has not spoken to us. We have had no discussions. We feel that with such a limited strength, we cannot aspire for such a major post,’’ Pawar said. Sangma has made it clear that he wanted a tribal in the top post and that he is in the race not as an NCP man. For his part, Naveen called him as the most suitable person for the top job. Describing Sangma as a prominent tribal leader, Naveen said, “I have talked to my party leaders and has spoken to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on the issue.”The BJD supremo said he had received a letter from the NCP leader on Wednesday and consultations with senior leaders of the BJD. Sangma’s daugther and Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Agatha Sangma, met Naveen here a couple of months ago. The father-daughter duo called on Jayalalithaa on May 15 in Chennai and sought support.