BJP urges non-Congress parties to back Sangma

The BJP state unit has appealed to all non-Congress parties in the state to support the candidacy of former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma for the post of President in the election scheduled for July 19.

Former Union minister B.Dattatreya and spokesman NVSS Prabhakar told reporters here on Saturday that Sangma, an NCP leader, was being backed by the BJP, Akali Dal, AIADMK and BJD backed by PA Sangma candidature as he possessed all the requisite qualities to become the  head of state.

Prabhakar said that the TDP had been known to be a staunch anti-Congress party till now and the present election would be an acid test for its leadership. It was inevitable for the TDP to support Sangma if it  genuinely opposed the Congress, the BJP leader said.

He also urged the TRS leadership to oppose Pranab Mukherjee for his strong opposition to the concept of smaller states.

In its appeal to the YSR Congress Party, the BJP said said that if the party supported Mukherjee, its anti-Congress stance would become suspect in the minds of the people.

As for the Lok Satta Party,  its president N Jayaprakash Narayan had criticised Pranab Mukherjee for not bringing back the black money stashed away by Indians in Swiss banks.