New Delhi: NCP leader PA Sangma is in no mood to throw in the towel for the post of President just yet. The tribal leader who is backed by the BJD and AIADMK will be reaching out to two more parties for support on Monday.
Sangma is expected to call on Shiromani Akali Dal Chief Parkash Singh Badal for support. He is also expected to meet Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.
Sangma on Sunday said that he is still in the race for the President's post and has sought support of Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee for his candidature.
He said that he had spoken to many NDA leaders, ahead of their meeting on Sunday and appealed them to support his candidature.
"I am still in the race. I have made an appeal to all political parties to support my candidature. Since NDA meeting was scheduled for today, I spoke to many of the NDA leaders yesterday till late in the evening, appealing them that they should extend their support to my candidature," he told reporters.
Replying to a query whether he has spoken to the TMC chief seeking support for himself, Sangma said, "I had spoken to Mamata Banerjee day before on Saturday, late in the evening. I have appealed to her also to support my candidature."
He said that Banerjee was insistent on the name of former President APJ Abdul Kalam.
"I said (to Mamata) that Dr Kalam has opted out of the race. Therefore, you should support me," Sangma said.
NCP has been opposing Sangma's candidature, pledging its support to UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee.
On whether he is defying his own party by contesting for the top post, he said, "I have maintained right from the beginning that I am a candidate of Tribal Forum of India which has nothing to with any political party."
With additional information from PTI
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