Presidential poll: Naveen Patnaik to accompany PA Sangma in filing nomination

BHUBANESWAR: Describing P A Sangma as a prominent tribal and minority leader, Odisha Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik today said he would accompany the Presidential aspirant during filing of his nomination in Delhi tomorrow.

"Sangma is BJD's candidate. We first announced his name for the top post in mid-May and later other political parties supported him," Patnaik told reporters shortly before leaving for Delhi.

Stating that he would accompany Sangma during filing of his nomination paper for the ensuing presidential polls,the chief minister termed the former Lok Sabha Speaker as a popular tribal and minority leader. "Therefore, all should vote for him," he said.

Patnaik had yesterday signed on the nomination paper as a proposer for the candidature of Sangma when the former speaker's son Conrad Sangma met him at Naveen Niwas here.

Besides Patnaik, about 100 members including MLAs, MPs and ministers of Odisha signed on the paper, Conrad who is also the leader of opposition in Meghalaya, had said.

While 50 members signed as proposer for P A Sangma, 50 others signed as seconder, he said.

Thanking Naveen Patnaik and the BJD, he said the Odisha chief minister was the first person to announce his father's name as a presidential candidate and other parties rallied behind him later.

"It clearly shows his love for the tribal people and the Christian people," Conrad said.