Some Congress legislators will vote for Sangma, says son

The support for P A Sangma, who is contesting the presidential election, is increasing day by day, claimed his son and Leader of Opposition in the Meghalaya Assembly Conrad K Sangma on Saturday.

Conrad, an influential leader of the Nationalist Congress Party in Meghalaya, told reporters at an official meeting of the NCP, "P A Sangma's vote share is increasing and now it is at 30-32 per cent of the total votes."

"We see improvement. It is a proud moment for all of us from Meghalaya," Conrad said.

Of the total vote account in the upcoming Presidential elections, he said, "Five percent belongs to Scheduled Tribes, 15 per cent for Schedule Castes and 40 per cent are from the Other Backward Classes."

Conrad claimed that even at this time, dissident groups within the Congress are pledging their support to P A Sangma.

"A few Congress legislators will be voting for Sangma," Conrad said.

Sangma is an Independent candidate in the upcoming elections, backed by the AIADMK and the Biju Janata Dal and supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Conrad said, "You will see the situation changing in the coming days".

Expressing happiness that Sangma, a founding member of the NCP, had resigned, Conrad said, "Mr Sangma had taken a bold step, nevertheless it was a great loss for the NCP."

"The party had lost its tallest leader, a mentor and a greatest leader of the party in the north-eastern region, even as he resigned at his individual level for a cause, for all the tribals in the country, all north-eastern states and its people and all Christians," he said.

Commenting on the reported statement made by Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, Conrad said, "It is sad that the chief minister came up with a statement against PA Sangma."

The statement from the chief minister was "immature", he said.

Mukul had reportedly questioned P A Sangma on the development he brought to the state and to his hometown in Garo Hills, despite being at the helm of power for a very long time.

Conrad urged the people, "We should all rise above politics and we should rise for the cause of the people. The statements made by the chief minister had hurt the sentiments of the people in Garo hills, people of Meghalaya and the sentiments of NE people."

"This is the closest that in many years to come that a person from Meghalaya, a tribal, will ever get to be elected as President of the country. I don't see this in many years to Come; I am hoping to see a positive response, I hope the opportunity be taken by all leaders of the NE," Conrad said.

The NCP leader confirmed that the state unit of the NCP would continue under "status quo" as of now, adding that in politics, "anything can happen."