Rs 50,000 crore financial package for UP to get votes for Pranab Mukherjee: PA Sangma

LUCKNOW: NDA presidential nominee PA Sangma has termed the Centre's financial package of Rs 50,000 crore to UP as a quid-pro-quo deal for securing SP's support for his rival Pranab Mukherjee.

In Lucknow to campaign for his presidential bid, Sangma on Wednesday said that the UPA government had given a huge financial package to states like Uttar Pradesh to ensure votes for Congress nominee Pranab Mukherjee. He said that even CBI has become political tool to ensure Mukherjees' victory in the presidential election.

At a high level meeting in New Delhi, between prime minister's principal secretary Pulock Chaterjee and UP chief secretary Jawed Usmani, the Centre has assured releasing funds and launching schemes worth almost Rs 50,000 crore for UP.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had asked for financial support of about Rs 93,000 crore from the central government immediately after becoming the chief minister. While all demands were not met, Rs 50,000 crore is one of the biggest central aid in recent times.

The NDA presidential nominee said, "the country's economy is in shambles, the rupee's value has eroded, FDI has gone down and corruption cases are on the rise. The central government has not been able to deliver on any front."

Sangma claimed his appeal of conscience vote has been gaining traction among MLAs and MPs. He appealed to legislators to vote for a tribal as the next president and said that since these elections are not fought on party lines, and a secret ballot takes place, he was hopeful of his bid.