UPA partners will also vote for me, says Sangma

Former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma, who is in the race for the President's post and is backed by BJP and some of its allies, said on Sunday he would not only get votes of the members of NDA allies, but also that of UPA partners. He was in Amritsar to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple.

Accompanied by BJP MP from Amritsar Navjot Singh Sidhu and Akali leaders Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Prem Singh Chandumajra, Sangma said he was hopeful of getting elected as President.

"The President does not belong to any single party, but is common for all. During Presidential polls the party whip is immaterial. Secret ballot takes place and I am sure in this type of voting, members of UPA ally parties would also vote for me," he asserted.

Citing that V V Giri had gone on to win the Presidential polls as independent candidate, Sangma said: "History would repeat itself. All the mathematics of UPA would be proven wrong. No doubt that Pranab Mukherjee has got the support of the corporate lobby, but I have the support of people of the country."

He hit out at UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee, saying corruption and inflation surpassed all limits during his tenure as finance minister. "The value of Rupee against Dollar stumbled to all-time low during Mukherjee's tenure as finance minister and he is directly responsible for the same," Sangma alleged.

He said he was thankful to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for promising his party Shiromani Akali Dal's full support to him in the poll.

Thackeray may not meet Sangma

New Delhi: Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray is unlikely to grant an appointment to P A Sangma who has sought to meet him to win over his support for the July 19 elections. "We have made our position crystal clear in favour of Pranab Mukherjee and therefore the question of having such a meeting with Sangma does not arise," party leader Sanjay Raut said. He said Sangma had sought the appointment almost a month ago.

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