Opposition-backed presidential candidate P.A. Sangma on Sunday reiterated his claim that the country would witness the 1969 like results and he would emerge a clear winner in the July 19 polls.
“Eighteen political parties have pledged their support me. Some more parties are likely to announce their decision in a day or two while others may not announce at all. I hope they will vote for us,” Mr Sangma, who was on a one-day campaign tour to the state, told reporters at the Biju Patnaik airport here. He hoped that the MPs and MLAs would cast their votes as per their conscience, and not by party affiliations. “I’m fully convinced that the forthcoming presidential elections will be as significant as 1969 polls when V.V. Giri won defeating Congress candidate Sanjeeva Reddy,” he said.
From the airport, Mr Sangma went to chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik’s residence and held discussions with him for half-an-hour. Later, he addressed BJD MPs and MLAs at the BJD party office. He went to the BJP party office at Kharavel Nagar where was received by party state unit president and former Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram.
BJP Legislature Party leader K.V. Singhdeo said all his party MLAs would vote for Mr Sangma.
Describing the presidential elections as “special.” he said it had generated much interest among common people. “In the past, people never used to know about elections for the post of President and for the first time it was highlighted in 1969. After so many years, the presidential poll has once again generated interest among common people,” he said.
Meanwhile in Guwahati, Mr Sangma called upon Congress MLAs and MPs to vote for him without “fear”, saying there was no official whip barring them from doing so and cited the presence of secret ballot.
“Nobody has to be afraid. I am conveying this particular message to the Congress MLAs and MPs. You don’t have to be afraid,” Mr Sangma said Sunday evening. He said: “Constitution says that you can vote for anybody whom you want. Party cannot dictate you. Nobody can dictate you. It is your choice, your conscience.”
He met leaders of various parties, including the BJP, Asom Gana Parishad, Mizo National Front and United Democratic Party, which have extended support for him for the presidential polls.