Sangma supports Kalam; surprised over Cong nominee

Shillong, Jun 21: President A P J Abdul Kalam today received support for a second term from former Lok Sabha Speaker and NCP leader Purno A Sangma, who expressed surprise over the Congress choice of Pratibha Patil as the UPA-Left nominee for the presidential elections.

"I am surprised over UPA's choice," the senior Congress turned NCP leader told sources here today.

He said Dr Kalam remains his first choice for the post. But if he withdraws from the race eventually, the tribal Garo leader said his next choice would be renowned agri-scientist Professor M S Swaminathan.

''Indira Gandhi had advised me that never run for the post, but let the post run after you. Therefore, I never have an ambition to become Prime Minister or President,'' said Mr Sangma when asked whether he could have been a presidential candidate.

Asked about North East MPs reportedly backing Goa Governor Sanayangba Chubatoshi Jamir for Vice-Presidential post, the tallest tribal political leader said, Jamir is qualified for the post and I will wholeheartedly support him if that is true.

He, however, lamented that political leaders from North East have failed to have a common strategies to ensure that a leader from the region to assumed the highest post in the country.

No leader from the Northeast has ever become the country's President or Vice-President, who is the ex-officio chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

In 1999, G.G. Swell, a Rajya Sabha member from Meghalaya, lost to Shankar Dayal Sharma in the presidential race.

UNI