We are still for P A Sangma as Presidential candidate: BJD

BHUBANESWAR: In the midst of the Presidential race hotting up following Trinamool Congress-SP move to counter Congress, BJD today said it stuck to its support for former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma as the candidate for the top post.

"We have been supporting Sangma's candidature after his name was announced by the Chief Minister," BJD Lok Sabha MP Bhartuhari Mahtab told reporters here adding that as of now "there was no question of re-considering on the Presidential candidate."

BJD's Rajya Sabha MP Sashi Bhusan Behera also said the party wants Sangma as the Presidential candidate.

The state's ruling BJD has 104 MLAs and 21 MPs, including seven Rajya Sabha members.

BJD and AIADMK had proposed Sangma as presidential candidate.

BJD leader and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was the first to moot the name of Sangma for the presidential poll. Sangma later got support from AIADMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.