With an important NDA partner Shiv Sena today declaring support for UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee and another key ally JD(U) showing signs of doing the same, an embarrassed BJP has been left with little option but to back former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma in the presidential election.
Despite desertions by its allies, the BJP is firm that it will not allow the President’s post to go uncontested, although it is now evident that Mukherjee is far ahead in the race.
There is no official word from the BJP, but party insiders said senior leader LK Advani had got in touch with AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik, who had proposed Sangma’s candidature, and asked them to take the lead in canvassing support for the former Speaker as an Independent candidate.
The BJP was forced to change its strategy for the presidential election after NDA allies like Shiv Sena, JD(U) and the Akali Dal, were not enthused about pitting a candidate against Pranab Mukherjee. Well aware that a candidate proposed by the NDA would not find ready acceptance, Advani asked Jayalalithaa and Patnaik to be more proactive in mustering support for Sangma.
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