PA Sangma back in action, to contest from Tura

New Delhi, March 10: Former NCP leader and Lok Sabha Speaker Purna Ajitok Sangma is set to fight the upcoming Lok Sabha election from Tura in West Garo Hills district of

and Sangma's daughter and former Union minister

decided to step down from the same seat to make way for her father.

Sangma, who had announced that he was not in the fray earlier, will contest as the National People's Party (NPP) candidate. Agatha said she quit the NCP on March 7 and joined the NPP on Monday.

Sangma's daughter Agatha stepped down from the Tura seat to make way for him

The NPP, which was revived by Sangma and Kirorilal Meena, formally joined the National Democratic Alliance in January last year. Sangma even backed Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate days before joining the NDA. The NPP leadership at a press conference held at Agatha's official residence on Monday also claimed that the BJP was wanting Sangma to be back in active politics, given his stature as a big leader from the Northeast. The senior Sangma was, however, not present on the occasion.

The NPP also wants to field candidates from Rajasthan, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh.

Purna Sangma, a former Congressman, had joined the NCP after protesting the foreign origin of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. During the 2012 presidential election, he had a difference with NCP chief Sharad Pawar after remaining firm on his decision to contest the polls against UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee and left the party. The NCP is a constituent of the Congress-led UPA.

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