The race for Raisina Hill is gathering pace and so far, only the BJD and AIADMK have come out in support of former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A'gitok Sangma's candidature. However, the 64-years old Garo leader from Tura in Meghalaya tells Oinam Sunil that there are other parties backing him, though they have not made their support public yet. Excerpts:
What prompted you to enter the fray?
Firstly, I have not projected myself. It is a decision of tribal leaders across political parties. On May 9, a convention of tribal leaders unanimously resolved to appeal to all political parties to find a consensus tribal candidate for the president's election. The convention has identified six names — former Goa Governor S C Jamir, Union tribal affairs minister Kishore Chandra Deo, Arvind Netam, Lok Sabha deputy speaker and BJP leader Karia Munda, former CEC J M Lyngdoh and myself. When our delegation met Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa, she agreed to our proposal, but suggested my name after discussing with Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik. This is how my name comes up in the race.
Your party, NCP, has not backed you while the NCP's Northeast units have openly come out in support of your candidature. Is there any rift within the NCP?
There are no two blocs in NCP. But there exist two opinions on the presidential election. As per Centre and Maharashtra politics, the NCP is part of the UPA. But in the rest of the country, it is not. The 15 NCP MLAs in Meghalaya are in opposition while Congress is in power. Similarly, NCP MLAs in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha are opposed to the Congress. That's why I cannot be said to be part of the UPA, while Agatha (daughter) is as she is an MP.
Are you confident of winning the election when UPA and Congress are not backing you?
I have always stood for principles and I am confident of winning the election. The election is based on secret ballot and no party can issue whips like in Parliament or in assemblies.
You mean hidden votes. What are these hidden votes?
When media talks about the strength of each party in the electoral college, they are talking about the numbers on paper. That is numbers only and it simply does not work in secret ballot. Even if a party has this much number of votes, it cannot be said that all these votes will go to one candidate. In secret ballot, it is the decision of that person whom to cast his or her vote.
Are BJP and NDA leaders ready to support you?
We have met many BJP and NDA leaders including L K Advani, Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav. Everybody has subscribed to the idea of giving a tribal leader a chance to become President. But all of them told me that they cannot have an individual decision on the matter and their parties will take a final decision. I believe that within a week's time, things will become clearer.
What is your relationship with the Third Front and Left parties?
I am friendly with all leaders and I have helped everyone when I was a minister. As Speaker too, I acted according to the rules. No one can say that I have done any injustice to any MP or leader. It will be my personal relations with all these leaders that will work in my favour.
Will you settle for vice president in the event of a possible bargain with the Congress and UPA allies?
My candidature was not decided by me. I cannot take any decision on my own at this juncture as two powerful people — Tamil Nadu and Odisha CMs — have proposed my name. There are also some parties who have backed my candidature though they have not come out in the open so far. All of them will decide what will be my next move.
Many in the Northeast say that even if you lose, you have already succeeded in putting a Northeasterner on the centre-stage of politics.
I agree. A group of youths from Manipur have even launched a Facebook campaign for me. People from the Northeast are in no way inferior to the rest of the country; we are equally competent and qualified. If I do not make it, this will pave the way for the younger generation in the Northeast.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
What prompted you to enter the fray?
Firstly, I have not projected myself. It is a decision of tribal leaders across political parties. On May 9, a convention of tribal leaders unanimously resolved to appeal to all political parties to find a consensus tribal candidate for the president's election. The convention has identified six names — former Goa Governor S C Jamir, Union tribal affairs minister Kishore Chandra Deo, Arvind Netam, Lok Sabha deputy speaker and BJP leader Karia Munda, former CEC J M Lyngdoh and myself. When our delegation met Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa, she agreed to our proposal, but suggested my name after discussing with Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik. This is how my name comes up in the race.
Your party, NCP, has not backed you while the NCP's Northeast units have openly come out in support of your candidature. Is there any rift within the NCP?
There are no two blocs in NCP. But there exist two opinions on the presidential election. As per Centre and Maharashtra politics, the NCP is part of the UPA. But in the rest of the country, it is not. The 15 NCP MLAs in Meghalaya are in opposition while Congress is in power. Similarly, NCP MLAs in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha are opposed to the Congress. That's why I cannot be said to be part of the UPA, while Agatha (daughter) is as she is an MP.
Are you confident of winning the election when UPA and Congress are not backing you?
I have always stood for principles and I am confident of winning the election. The election is based on secret ballot and no party can issue whips like in Parliament or in assemblies.
You mean hidden votes. What are these hidden votes?
When media talks about the strength of each party in the electoral college, they are talking about the numbers on paper. That is numbers only and it simply does not work in secret ballot. Even if a party has this much number of votes, it cannot be said that all these votes will go to one candidate. In secret ballot, it is the decision of that person whom to cast his or her vote.
Are BJP and NDA leaders ready to support you?
We have met many BJP and NDA leaders including L K Advani, Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav. Everybody has subscribed to the idea of giving a tribal leader a chance to become President. But all of them told me that they cannot have an individual decision on the matter and their parties will take a final decision. I believe that within a week's time, things will become clearer.
What is your relationship with the Third Front and Left parties?
I am friendly with all leaders and I have helped everyone when I was a minister. As Speaker too, I acted according to the rules. No one can say that I have done any injustice to any MP or leader. It will be my personal relations with all these leaders that will work in my favour.
Will you settle for vice president in the event of a possible bargain with the Congress and UPA allies?
My candidature was not decided by me. I cannot take any decision on my own at this juncture as two powerful people — Tamil Nadu and Odisha CMs — have proposed my name. There are also some parties who have backed my candidature though they have not come out in the open so far. All of them will decide what will be my next move.
Many in the Northeast say that even if you lose, you have already succeeded in putting a Northeasterner on the centre-stage of politics.
I agree. A group of youths from Manipur have even launched a Facebook campaign for me. People from the Northeast are in no way inferior to the rest of the country; we are equally competent and qualified. If I do not make it, this will pave the way for the younger generation in the Northeast.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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