 |
 | |
Sangma wraps up Prez poll campaign, meets JayalalithaaWinding up his campaign for the Presidential election, NDA candidate PA Sangma on Wednesday met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and thanked her for supporting his candidature for the top post."I came here to thank Jayalalithaa for giving full support to me," Sangma, pitted against UPA's nominee Pranab Mukherjee, told reporters after calling on the chief minister at her Poes Garden residence here. read more.. No grudge against Mamata for supporting Pranab: Sangma NEW DELHI: Presidential candidate P A Sangma on Wednesday said he had no grudge against TMC chief Mamata Banerjee for supporting his rival Pranab Mukherjee stating all parties have their own "compulsions and calculations". Asked if he was disappointed at Banerjee's decision, Sangma said, "No, no, she has every right to decide for her party. I have nothing against her...I tried to reach out to her. I met her and requested her. That was my duty and she had given me a patient hearing, and also gave me some hope." read more.. Sangma likely to end Presidential campaign in ChennaiChennai, July 17 (PTI) UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee kick-started his campaign for the Presidential election from this city and his rival P A Sangma in all probability may conclude his tour here, giving Tamil Nadu a pride of place in the race to the Raisina Hills.Sangma, first propped up by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik, would arrive here tomorrow in the evening, a day ahead of the showdown on July 19. read more.. No grudge against Mamata for supporting Pranab: Sangma on Prez pollsPresidential candidate PA Sangma on Wednesday said he had no grudge against TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee for supporting his rival Pranab Mukherjee stating all parties have their own "compulsions and calculations".Asked if he was disappointed at Banerjee's decision, Sangma said, "No, no, she has every right to decide for her party. I have nothing against her...I tried to reach out to her. I met her and requested her. That was my duty and she had given me a patient hearing, and also gave me some hope." read more.. Purno Sangma: The rise and the tumble After the presidential poll, Sangma may well realise that 'miracles' and 'conscience' do not really exist, especially in Indian politics, they have long become extinct, says Anirban Ganguly. Click here! Purno Agitok Sangma's finest moment -- according to his own admission -- came when he, an ordinary person, 'a tribal from the remote north-east of India' took oath as cabinet minister along with Madhavrao Scindia read more.. Sangma works his way to the topNew Delhi: Purno Agitok Sangma, born on September 1, 1947 in the picturesque West Garo Hills district of the state of Meghalaya in northeast East India, grew up in the small tribal village where he realised quite early in life that he would have to struggle hard to rise in life and education was the only way to overall progress. After completing his graduation from St. Anthony’s College, he went to Dibrugarh University in Assam for his master’s degree in International Relations. Subsequently, he obtained a degree in Law.Sangma was a lecturer, a lawyer and a journalist before he joined politics. He started his political life as a small-time Congress party worker. However, in 1974, he became the General Secretary of the Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress (MPYC). In 1975, he was appointed the General Secretary of the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) and held that post till 1980. read more.. Defying all odds Before Purno Agitok Sangma’s foray into the national political centrestage, few journalists—leave alone others ---knew about Tura, a small sleepy town tucked away in a corner of Meghalaya. Thanks to Sangma, visiting the town is today almost a must for journalists covering the region. Undoubtedly, the cherubic and affable Garo’s name and fame has spread far. The 65-year-old’s four-decade-long political career is chequered like those of few other politicians of his generation. Riding repeated highs and lows, the strongman from Tura has always found a way to bounce back to the headlines. This time around, his vehicle is his bid for the country’s top post at Raisina Hill backed by the main opposition BJP, and the AIADMK and BJD. read more.. Sangma confident of Mamata supportThe NDA presidential candidate PA Sangma has expressed confidence about Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee extending support to his candidature by Tuesday. Sangma said this while talking to media persons after his arrival in Dehradun on Monday.After receiving a red carpet welcome from BJP members in Uttarakhand, Sangma was extended support by BJP legislators. Sangma also had discussions with the legislators on various issues specific to Uttarakhand. While addressing mediapersons in a press conference held in Dehradun on Monday, Sangma said that BJP party members had announced their support for him for the presidential election which is slated to take place on July 19. "Even though Mamata Banerjee has not yet disclosed who her party will support in the election, I am sure she will stand in my favour," he said. read more.. After Prez poll, Sangma to move SC against EC’s Pranab ruling Dehra Dun: Opposition-backed Presidential poll nominee PA Sangma today said he would move the Supreme Court against the Election Commission’s decision to quash the complaint against UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee’s nomination papers after the elections. “In consultation with leaders like Ram Jethmalani and Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy, we will move the Supreme Court on the EC’s ruling after the elections are over,” Sangma told reporters here. read more.. PA Sangma flays Obama for foreign investment remarksOpposition-backed presidential candidate PA Sangma today said US President Barack Obama's remarks with regard to the investment climate in India were shameful for the country."Barack Obama is directing the government of India what it should do, this is shameful for the country," he told a press conference here. Opposition parties have also lashed out at Obama for his remarks that India prohibits foreign investment in too many sectors. read more.. Obama’s remarks shameful for India: Sangma Jaipur: Opposition-backed Presidential candidate P A Sangma today said US President Barack Obama’s remarks with regard to the investment climate in India were shameful for the country. “Barack Obama is directing the government of India what it should do, this is shameful for the country,” he told a press conference here. Opposition parties have also lashed out at Obama for his remarks that India prohibits foreign investment in too many sectors. read more.. Sangma banks on 'hidden' votes to sail throughPresidential post aspirant P A Sangma on Sunday reiterated about ‘hidden’ votes, which will play a crucial role in his bid for the top official job of the country, while addressing the MLAs and MPs of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) here.“So far 18 political parties have extended their support to me. Some other parties have (also) decided to internally support us. Some of them will announce their decision within couple of days and some may not declare at all. But I can assure you, they are with us,” he said during his campaign tour to the state ahead of the presidential poll on July 19. As political parties are barred from issuing whip for the presidential election, he said, he has full confidence to win the contest, which can be as significant as 1969 when there was strong contest between V V Giri and Neelam Sanjiva Reddy. read more.. My daughters named after Agatha Christie: Sangma Bhubaneswar: Opposition Presidential candidate PA Sangma on Sunday said his two daughters, Christie and Agatha, were named after prominent British novelist Agatha Christie, whose book was presented to him by the then Orissa chief minister Biju Patnaik. "I named my two daughters after Agatha Christie. Biju Patnaik had presented me with a Agatha Christe book when I met him for the first time in 1977," Sangma told a gathering of BJD MLAs and MPs during his campaign trail here. Sangma said he admired Biju Patnaik who was a friend of young MPs then. "I also admire Naveen. He too has the same courage," Sangma said. read more.. Sangma says 'Prez poll would be beginning of movement for change'Patna, July 14 (ANI): Former Lok Sabha speaker and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-backed presidential candidate P.A. Sangma on Saturday said the upcoming presidential election would be the beginning of a movement for change.Sangma said the people of the country were looking for a change, as they are angry and disappointed. "The people of India are angry, people of India are disappointed looking for a change and I am a candidate because I believe that this presidential election should be the beginning of a movement for change," he said. read more.. Allegations of not maintaining decency in Prez poll 'absurd': SangmaBJP-backed candidate PA Sangma on Saturday termed the Congress allegation against him that he was not observing 'decency and decorum' in the presidential elections, as 'absurd'."It is just absurd," Sangma, who has stated earlier that Rastrapati Bhavan was being used as a 'dumping ground' for a 'failed' former union finance minister, told reporters here. The Congress has held that he was not observing 'decency and decorum' in the presidential elections. read more.. Congress is anti-tribal, says Sangma New Delhi/Raipur: Dubbing Congress as anti-tribal, BJP-backed presidential nominee PA Sangma said he was still inspired by the ideology of the party which "now does not have leaders like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi". Talking to reporters in Raipur on Thursday Sangma said, "Congress suspended its tribal leader Arvind Netam without prior notice when he was seen with me during the filing of nomination paper for the presidential election. This step by the Congress exposes the party's anti-tribal face." Sangma, a prominent tribal leader from the northeast and a former NCP leader, arrived in Raipur to meet BJP MPs and MLAs ahead of the July 19 presidential vote. Asked about his relation with the NCP and the Congress, the former Lok Sabha Speaker said he was still inspired by the Congress ideology, but the party now does not have leaders like Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. read more.. Bhim Singh meets NaiduChairman, National Panthers Party, Bhim Singh called on Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu and urged him to support the candidature of P.A. Sangma in Presidential elections. Prof. Singh, who led a National Panthers Party delegation to Mr. Chandrababu Naidu, also spoke to Telangana Rashtra Samithi leader, K. Chandra sekhar Rao and leaders of YSR Congress Party and appealed to them “to vote for a change”. read more.. AIADMK MPs, MLAs to strategise on poll eveChief minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa has convened a meeting of her party MPs and MLAs on July 18, a day before the Presidential poll. All of them should attend the meeting being held under party presidium chairman E. Madhusudanan, she said in a statement on Thursday. Though her statement did not specify the purpose of the meeting, it is expected that the modalities of the Prez poll would be discussed. The AIADMK has 150 MLAs and 14 MPs. Ms Jayalalithaa, along with the BJD and the BJP, has announced support for former Lok Sabha Speaker P.A. Sangma, who recently quit the NCP because the party refused to back his candidature. NCP general secretary D.P. Tripathi told reporters in Delhi that the party would ask the BJP, AIADMK and BJD to withdraw support to Sangma because he “is not observing decency, decorum and dignity in the Presidential election”. read more.. MPP renders moral support to SangmaMPHAL : Manipur People’s Party (MPP) has decided to render moral support to PA Sangma in the coming presidential election scheduled on July 19. Addressing media persons today at MPP head-office, MPP President Sansam Umananda stated that the MPP will give moral support to PA Sangma even though the party could not vote in the presidential election. He further proposed the state government to set up the Legislative Council where intellectuals and qualified persons in the fields of art, film and literature can be nominated by the Governor as members of the Legislative Council instead of appointing the Parliamentary secretaries. The MPP will also organize seminars and panel discussions for the establishment of Legislative Councils in the state, Umananda noted. read more.. AIADMK MPS, MLAs to meet on July 18Members of Parliament and Legislative Assembly belonging to the AIADMK will meet at the party headquarters in Chennai on July 18. Chairman of the AIADMK presidium E. Madhusudanan will preside over the meeting, according to a release issued by party general secretary and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. The meeting comes on the eve of the Presidential election and is likely to be an occasion to give instructions to legislators on the manner of voting. The AIADMK is backing P.A. Sangma for the post. read more.. Team Sangma to take matters to court if Pranab wins New Delhi : Team Sangma seems to be using every trick in its book to spoil the chances of UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee from becoming the next President of India. Towards this endeavour, the team campaigning for BJP's presidential nominee Sangma has threatened to file an election petition in the event of Pranab winning the race to Raisina Hill. The presidential poll is slated to be held on Jul 19. read more.. Raisina Hill being used as a "dumping ground": Sangma Mumbai, Jul 10: Sharpening his attack on UPA rival Pranab Mukherjee, Opposition-backed Presidential nominee PA Sangma on Tuesday said Rashtrapati Bhavan was being used as a "dumping ground" for the "failed" former Finance Minister. "The Raisina Hill is being used as a dumping ground for the failed Finance Minister," Sangma, who was here to mobilise support for his Presidential bid, told reporters. Asked if he was confident of a victory, Sangma said, "There are no ifs. I will win. I have never lost an election in my life. My winning margin has always increased." read more.. Prez polls: PA Sangma’s legal team keeps heat on Pranab MukherjeeOpposition presidential candidate PA Sangma’s legal team comprising former BJP MP Satyapal Jain has made written submission against returning officer’s order.Rajya Sabha secretary general Agnihotri had rejected Sangma’s objection that UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee had violated the law pertaining to office of profit when he filed his nomination. Jain and others alleged that Mukherjee was the chairman of the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata at the time. Mukherjee’s authorised representatives in the election, P Chidambaram and Pawan Kumar Bansal had produced a copy of Mukherjee’s resignation letter of June 20. But Jain has been arguing that it was a backdated letter and that the signature of Mukherjee does not match. read more.. Sangma camp mulls SC poll petitionOpposition nominee P.A. Sangma’s camp, which has sought re-scrutiny of Pranab Mukherjee’s nomination papers by the Election Commission, Monday did not rule out moving an election petition in the Supreme Court if it failed to get a favourable order from the poll panel.Mr Sangma’s “personal adviser” Subramanian Swamy and his authorised representative Satya Pal Jain said here that as soon as they receive the EC’s directions on their petition, they would decide on the next course of action. “Let the EC’s order come. We will go step by step as per the settled procedure of law... All options are open. As soon as the EC decision comes, we will take a decision,” Mr Jain told a press conference after submitting a written petition to the poll panel read more.. If I was PM I would have sacked Khurshid: SangmaNDA’s presidential nominee PA Sangma today said that Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid’s statements on the government having no direction was completely uncalled for and he would have sacked him if he was heading the government“How can he say something like that? If I would have been prime minister then I would have sacked him,” Sangma told reporters in Mumbai. read more.. PA Sangma: Raisina Hill being used as 'dumping ground' for 'failure' Pranab Mukherjee Mumbai: Sharpening his attack on Pranab Mukherjee, BJP-backed presidential nominee PA Sangma today said Rashtrapati Bhavan was being used as a "dumping ground" for the "failed" former Finance Minister. Mr Sangma is contesting against Mr Mukherjee in the presidential polls. "Raisina Hill is being used as a dumping ground for the failed Finance Minister," Mr Sangma, who was in Mumbai to mobilise support for his presidential bid, told reporters. read more.. Father contesting presidential poll not to harm my position in cabinet: Agatha Sangma Raipur: Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Agatha Sangma, has said that she has no danger to her position in the union council of ministers from her father contesting for President's post. She further said that she is a member of UPA as well as NCP and would like to continue in future also. Agatha was in the capital in connection with a function orgainised to commemorate the sacrifices of Rani Durgawati. read more.. Prez poll: Sangma in Mumbai; meets BJP legislators Mumbai: Presidential hopeful P A Sangma, who is in the city as part of his campaign, on Tuesday met BJP legislators. Sangma was also felicitated by Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly, Eknath Khadse at the latter's official residence in South Mumbai. He is expected to address a meeting of BJP legislators later in the day. Khadse said he would request the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to support Sangma, who has been backed by the AIADMK, Biju Janata Dal and BJP. On July 13, UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee will be in Mumbai and is expected to meet Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray to express his gratitude for Sena's support to his candidature in the Presidential polls. read more.. Sangma hopes for repeat of 1969 Prez poll resultNDA Presidential nominee P A Sangma today said he was hopeful of victory in the July 19 election with the help of "conscience vote", which had previously played a deciding role in 1969. "I am not saying anything new as a conscience vote had played a decisive role even during the 1969 Presidential election," Sangma told reporters at the Madhya Pradesh BJP headquarters here.He was accompanied by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, BJP General Secretary Ananth Kumar and state BJP president Prabhat Jha. read more.. Pranab, Sangma to campaign in KashmirSrinagar, July 8: Presidential candidate of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Pranab Mukherjee and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) PA Sangma will be visiting Kashmir next week to campaign for their election to the president’s post.While Mukherjee, who is set to win the election and bag majority of votes from the state, will arrive in the Valley on July 15, Sangma is scheduled to arrive on July 11 or 12. Sources told Greater Kashmir that Mukherjee, who has recently quit as Finance Minister after being nominated as UPA’s presidential candidate, would be in Srinagar to mobilize support for him. “During his one day trip to Srinagar, he is scheduled to meet and interact with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Members of Parliament (MPs) from Congress and National Conference and legislators of Congress and National Conference,” they said. According to sources, Mukhrejee itinerary to Valley has been charted out and he is scheduled to meet and interact with legislators and MPs of coalition government at the SK International Convention Centre here. read more.. ‘Tribals of country are waiting for a tribal in Rashtrapati Bhavan’ Ahmedabad: Extending his support for PA Sangma’s candidature for the Presidential election, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi showered words of praise on the Nine-time MP and former Union Minister and said the time has come for Sangma to become the first President of India from Tribal community. “From Gujarat, no leader has been elected as a Member of Parliament for nine times. He (Sangma) has served as Union minister for 18 years and also served as the chief minister of Meghalaya. And in his long political career, no agency, be it CBI, CAG or any other, has ever tried to probe him. He has never been involved in any controversy or scams,” said Modi while adding that Tribals of the country are waiting for a tribal in Rashtrapati Bhavan. Sangma visited Ahmedabad for a function organised by the Netaji Subhas Bose’s INA Trust where Sidi tribals and others performed. read more.. Sangma seeks MNS support for presidential pollsMUMBAI: NDA-backed presidential candidate P A Sangma approached MNS chief Raj Thackeray for support."Sangma has called the MNS chief seeking support for the presidential election," said MNS MLA Bala Nandgaonkar.Opposition leader in the state legislative assembly, Eknath Khadse, too on Sunday appealed to the MNS to support Sangma. "As the MNS chief and BJP national president Nitin Gadkari enjoy a good rapport, it would not be surprising if the MNS announces support for Sangma," say political observers. read more.. Sangma aiming at ‘conscience vote’ BJP-supported Presidential candidate P.A. Sangma said he hoped to win on the basis of a “conscience vote,” which helped V.V. Giri win against Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, both Congress-backed candidates, in the 1969 elections. (During the 1969 elections, several Congress stalwarts backed Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy as the official Congress nominee for the post of President. However, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who backed V.V. Giri, asked electors to vote according to their conscience. Mr. Giri won the elections by a margin of 14,650 votes in a run-off, on second preference votes, after the first round failed to return either candidate.) Mr. Sangma was here on Sunday to canvass votes. Earlier, the former Lok Sabha Speaker met tribals from the State and danced with them. Mr. Sangma enthusiastically beat a drum while Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan gleefully danced to his beat, as State BJP president Prabhat Jha watched. read more.. Sangma seeks support of MP’s Prez poll votersWith 10 days to go for the Presidential poll, NDA-backed PA Sangma has stepped up the campaign pitch. He reached the state capital on Sunday to garner support for his candidature. Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj and BJP general secretary incharge of Madhya Pradesh, Ananth Kumar accompanied him. Expressing confidence despite the numbers not favouring him, Sangma reiterated that he believed in “miracles”. “United Progressive Alliance Presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee has stated that he does not believe in miracles but in numbers. However, I do believe in miracles,” Sangma said while talking to reporters here. He was here to seek support of BJP MLAs and MPs from the state. Observing that Presidential election was different due to the inapplicability of party whip, Sangma said the fact that such elections were based on conscience, had been proved during the Presidential election in 1969. Speaking about his earlier comments that the country’s President should not be blind, deaf or dumb, he said he made the statement in the wake of Mukherjee rejecting the need for a debate contending that the President had no role in policy formulation. read more..P A Sangma hopes for divine intervention, miraclesBHOPAL: Opposition supported Presidential candidate P A Sangma is looking at the heavens for a "miracle" and depending on the ``conscience vote of Congressmen'' to defeat UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee in the race to Raisina Hill. Sangma who was in the Madhya Pradesh capital on Sunday to meet state BJP MLAs and appeal for their votes said he believed in God and miracles. "I believe in miracles. That is the reason why we all believe in God. We go to church, temples and mosques asking God for those miracles to happen. Unlike Pranab Mukherjee, I believe that miracles do happen.'' Flanked by senior BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Anant Kumar, he took a swipe at his UPA rival and added: "Pranab Mukherjee only believes in numbers." For the BJP, which is supporting the nomination of P A Sangma, the "miracle'' is in Pranab Mukherjee's alleged controversial resignation letter to professor MGK Menon of the Indian Statistical Institute. BJP leader of opposition in the lok sabha Sushma Swaraj clarified that the three-member legal team of BJP MP and renowned veteran lawyer Ram Jethmelani, Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy and Sangma's counsel Satya Pal Jain are reviewing the different aspects of the "fraud" committed in the letter and whether it could disqualify Mukherjee's candidature. BJP claims the letter which was signed and sent on June 20, is a ``fraud'' committed by a man aspiring to hold the topmost constitutional office in the country. Speaking to reporters, Sushma Swaraj, distributed copies and said: ``On the day of the scrutiny of nomination papers, it was found that Mukherjee still held the post of chairman, Indian Statistical Institute Council in Kolkata which is an office of profit. read more..Sangma team wants probe into charges against Pranab
In their bid to disqualify Pranab Mukherjee from the Presidential elections, NDA nominee P A Sangma’s representatives have approached the Election Commission with two more instances of office of profit the UPA nominee is holding. The three-member team, made of Sangma’s lawyer Satpal Jain, his election manager Bhartruhari Mahtab and Janata Party chief Subramaniam Swamy, also conveyed their displeasure over the way the returning officer had dismissed their previous complaint against Mukherjee. Subramanian Swamy sought action against Mukherjee on the grounds that he continues to hold two more offices of profit - as Vice President of Birbhum Institute of Engineering and Technology and Chairman of Rabindra Bharti Society. After hearing their submission, the EC, led by their chief V S Sampath, has asked the delegation to give a written complaint by Monday. Jain told Deccan Herald that the team has lodged a complaint against RO V K Aghnihotri as he failed to exercise his jurisdiction by not recording his findings while dismissing the petition against Mukherjee. He said there are other forums to settle the issue. As per Section 5E(3) of Presidential and Vice Presidential Election Act of 1952, he is bound to decide whether Mukherjee’s signature at the time of submitting his resignation to Indian Statistical Institute was genuine, Jain remarked. According to article 324 of the Constitution, the Election Commission is well within its power to settle issues arising during elections. The delegation has sought the intervention of the EC to give directions to the RO to scrutinize their complaint and give a proper order. read more.. Sangma camp has fresh foul play plaintOpposition-backed Presidential candidate PA Sangma’s team on Saturday came out with a fresh charge that rival and UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee holds two more offices of profit.They also called upon the Election Commission to re-investigate his previous charge pertaining to Mukherjee's resignation from the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI). A three-member delegation representing Sangma met the Election Commission panel and expressed dissatisfaction over the Returning Officer's dismissal of their complaint. The delegation was given time by the Commission to present a written submission complaining about the UPA Presidential candidate's office of profit by Monday evening. In all, the delegation raised three issues before the EC. Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy, who was part of the delegation, claimed that Mukherjee continued to hold two more offices of profit — as Vice President of Birbhum Institute of Engineering and Technology and chairman of Rabindra Bharti Society, which forms the Rabindra Bharti University. The delegation met Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath to express their concerns and pointed out the powers of EC under the Constitution to intervene in the conduct of elections. read more.. Pranab's resignation from ISI not genuine: Swaraj
Shimla, Jul 6: Launching a fresh attack on UPA's presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee, Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj alleged that his signatures on the papers he put in while resigning from ISI, Kolkata were not genuine.Swaraj, who was at Kangra in Himachal to inaugurate the three-day meeting of National Executive of Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM), said, "It was painful that Pranab forgot to resign from the post of ISI chairman, an office of profit, and when the BJP raised doubts, he submitted his resignation that had forged signatures on it." Contending that Mukherjee had not quit the post of ISI chairman before filing his nomination for presidential polls, the BJP leader said his papers should have been rejected by the Returning Officer (RO) since the post was an "office of profit", which was a disqualification if the candidate held the post at the time of filing nominations. read more.. Pranab still holding two offices of profit: Sangma campOpposition nominee PA Sangma on Saturday sought the Election Commission's intervention for a fresh probe into his objections against the candidature of UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee for President, levelling new allegations that he was still holding two more offices of profit.Expressing dissatisfaction over the Returning Officer's dismissal of their complaint, a three-member delegation on behalf of Sangma met the Election Commission, which gave them time to present their written submission on their demand by Monday evening. After the meeting, Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy claimed that Mukherjee continued to hold two more offices of profit - as Vice President of Birbhum Institute of Engineering and Technology and Chairman of Rabindra Bharti Society, which forms the Rabindra Bharti University. read more.. Congress will not have a cakewalk in president polls: Sangma
Ahmedabad: BJP-supported presidential candidate PA Sangma on Friday said that Congress will not have a cake walk in the election to the top constitutional post of the country."Congress will not have a cakewalk in the presidential elections," Sangma, who is in the city to campaign for the July 19 presidential election, said. "India should have a President, who is not blind, dumb and deaf. India should have a thinking and a functional President," Sangma said when he was asked about his views on the top post. He lashed out at UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee for rejecting the suggestion for a debate between the two. Sangma had virtually dared Mukherjee for a debate ahead of the poll, saying democracy needs debate. He said that he was ready for a debate, but the Congress rejected the idea. "Pranab Mukherjee said that what is there to debate for the post of President, as he has to follow the policy decision taken by the council of ministers headed by the Prime Minister. What he meant is that President's is a rubber stamp post," Sangma remarked. "His (Mukherjee's) statement suggests that if he is elected, he would follow the letter of the Constitution. But I would follow the spirit of the Constitution," he said. "If I am elected, I will defend and protect the Constitution of India, integrity and sovereignty of India. Today problems like Naxalism and Maoism are related to tribals. If a tribal is made the President of India, he can help solve the problems," he added. read more.. Sangma to meet CEC on Pranab's candidatureSangma camp levels fresh allegations at PranabNEW DELHI, 7 JULY: Opposition nominee Mr PA Sangma today sought the Election Commission's (EC) intervention saying the UPA's Presidential nominee, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, was still holding two more offices of profit.Expressing dissatisfaction with the returning officer's dismissal of their complaint, a three-member delegation on behalf of Mr Sangma met the EC that gave them time to make a written submission by Monday evening. After the meeting, Janata Party president Mr Subramanian Swamy claimed that Mr Mukherjee continued to hold two more offices of profit ~ as vice-president of Birbhum Institute of Engineering and Technology and chairman of Rabindra Bharati Society, the founder of Rabindra Bharati University. He said the delegation met the chief election commissioner Mr VS Sampath and placed their concerns. The Constitution allows the EC to intervene in the conduct of elections. “Here the issue is of fraud. Let the EC decide on whether there is a fraud in the nomination process. Let the EC take the final decision,” Mr Swamy said. The delegation, which included BJP leader and Mr Sangma's counsel Mr Satya Pal Jain and election agent Mr Bhartruhari Mahtab, also raised the matter of Mr Mukherjee's signature on his letter of resignation sent to the Indian Statistical Institute and its acceptance. read more.. Swamy, BJD MP to meet CEC today on Pranab candidature issue
New Delhi: Janata Party Chief Subramanian Swamy and BJD MP Bartuhari Mahtab will meet CEC V S Sampath today to complain against the Presidential poll Returning Officer`s order rejecting the opposition demand for scrapping Pranab Mukherjee`s candidature for allegedly holding an Office of Profit.Swamy and Mahtab will represent opposition-backed candidate P A Sangma on the issue before the CEC.Sangma and his camp are not satisfied with the verdict given by Returning Officer V K Agnihotri. After a meeting here on Thursday, Sangma`s Election campaign committee has decided to take the matter to the CEC. The RO had said he was convinced that Mukherjee had quit as Chairman of Indian Statistical Institute on June 20 as claimed by him. BJP maintains Mukherjee`s signature on his resignation letter is fabricated. "We are going to the CEC with the complaint as under Article 324 of the Constitution, the authority of superintendence of polls lies with the EC," BJP leader S S Ahluwalia had told PTI on Thursday. "The order of the RO is not complete in itself. All disputes and issues which we had been raised should have been dealt with by the RO as per Rule 5(E). read more.. Pranab Mukherjee, a Master Perjuror/ Forgerer as Presidential Candidate 2012 - V. SundaramPranab Mukherjee, a Master Perjuror/ Forgerer as Presidential Candidate 2012By V. SUNDARAM IAS (r) Long before Smt. Pratibha Patil assumed charge as President of India in July 2007, I had written a series of articles in News Today, in May-June 2007 under the title ‘Should we a have a President with criminal antecedents?’ Smt. Pratibha Patil was only a mofussil criminal propped up by the Italian Vishakanya residing at Number 10 Janpath, New Delhi. Till two days ago the whole of India knew that Pranab Mukherjee has been functioning as an International Money Launderer for Sonia Gandhi. Now it has become absolutely clear that he has produced a FORGED DOCUMENT RELATING TO HIS RESIGNATION from the Chairmanship of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) before the Returning Officer for the 2012 Presidential Poll. The Advocate for P.A.Sangma has complained to the Returning Officer that the Resignation Letter dated 20th June 2012 given by Pranab Mukherjee is a Forged Document. Under the Indian Evidence Act (IEA), furnishing a Forged Document as Testimony to any Public Authority amounts to perjury. In my view, an act of Perjury through a fabricated and false document as testimony amounts to forgery. In short every PERJURER automatically qualifies to be designated as a FORGERER. Viewed in this light Pranab Mukherjee becomes both a Perjurer and a Forgerer. I am quite aware of the fact that the modern English usage for describing any criminal who forges a signature is a ‘forger’. However, I am using this old English spelling ‘forgerer’ to distinguish Pranab Mukherjee from a forger, a person who honourably works in a forge! The BJP Party at the highest level has accused Pranab Mukherjee of having committed the offence of forgery by furnishing a forged and fabricated document relating to his resignation. Dr. Subramanian Swamy, President of Janata Party, in a Twitter has said that Pranab Mukherjee got his Nomination cleared by furnishing a Forged Resignation Letter. read more.. P.A. Sangma to take complaint against Pranab Mukherjee to CEC over office of profit issue
Presidential contender P.A. Sangma plans to meet the chief election commissioner to complain against the returning officer's order rejecting his demand for disqualifying Pranab Mukherjee's candidature on the ground that he held an office of profit.
Sangma will ask the Election Commission to intervene in the issue as, according to him, many issues have been left answered by the returning officer.
Sangma had challenged Mukherjee's nomination saying he was still the chairman of the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata, an office of profit.
But Mukherjee produced his resignation letter saying he had resigned before filing his nomination. Sangma questioned the genuineness of the signature.
read more..
Sangma says his legal team going through RO's orderNew Delhi: Opposition backed Presidential candidate P A Sangma today said his legal team is going through the Returning Officer's ruling in the Pranab Mukherjee Office of Profit case and he would decide the future course of action after consulting his colleagues and supporters.The former Lok Sabha Speaker said he received a certified copy of the ruling of the Returning Officer (RO) last night and has gone through it. After his legal team has studied the ruling of the RO, who is the Rajya Sabha Secretary General, a meeting of his campaign committee will be held to decide the future course of action, he told a press conference here organised by Jammu and Kashmir-based National Panthers Party to announce its support to him. BJP leader Satpal Jain, who had filed the complaint against Mukherjee contending that since he was holding an office of profit as chairman of Indian Statistical Institute his nomination papers should read more.. Sangma to meet CEC on July 7 against Pranab's candidatureNew Delhi: Opposition-backed Presidential candidate PA Sangma will meet the Chief Election Commissioner on July 7 to complain against the Returning Officer's order rejecting his demand for disqualifying Pranab Mukherjee's candidature on the ground that he held an Office of Profit.BJP leader SS Ahluwalia, who is representing his party in Sangma's campaign committee, said the opposition is not satisfied with the verdict given by Returning Officer VK Agnihotri. After a meeting here today, Sangma's Election campaign committee has decided to take the matter to the CEC. The RO had said he was convinced that Mukherjee had quit as Chairman of Indian Statistical Institute on June 20 as claimed by him. BJP maintains Mukherjee's resignation letter and his signature on it are fabricated. read more.. Subhas Chandra Bose Trust will play host to Sangma on Friday Ahmedabad :Presidential candidate P A Sangma’s campaign in Gujarat will be hosted by the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose-INA Trust, which seeks to project Bose as a taller leader than Mahatma Gandhi. Sangma will address a gathering hosted by the trust, which celebrates the Azad Hind Fauj’s raising day on Friday where Chief Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest. Addressing reporters, trust general secretary Brigadier (retired) R S Chhikara said they wished to appoint Modi as its national patron-in-chief. He was accompanied by former BJP MLA from Godhra Haresh Bhatt, who had featured in the a sting operation on the 2002 riots. With the aim of achieving one lakh members in the next two years, the Sangathan not only challenges Mahatma Gandhi as the greatest leader but also claims that it was efforts of Bose that got India freedom. read more.. President poll: PA Sangma’s team studying RO’s order on Pranab MukherjeeNew Delhi, July 5 (TruthDive): Presidential candidate PA Sangma on Thursday declared that his legal team is having a look over the Returning Officer’s ruling in the Pranab Mukherjee Office of Profit case and would finally take an action after discussing with his colleagues.While talking to reporters in a press conference that was organized on behalf of Jammu and Kashmir-based National Panthers Party to declare its support to Sangma, he said that his legal team has examined the ruling of the RO, and will probably held a meeting today regarding the issue in order to discuss about further action. read more.. Sangma to meet CEC with complaint against Pranab
NEW DELHI: Opposition-backed presidential candidate P A Sangma will meet the chief election commissioner on July 7 to complain against the returning officer's order rejecting his demand to dismiss Pranab Mukherjee's candidature on the ground that he held an office of profit.BJP leader S S Ahluwalia, who is representing his party in Sangma's campaign committee, said the opposition was not satisfied with the verdict given by returning officer V K Agnihotri. After a meeting on Thursday, Sangma's election campaign committee has decided to take the matter to the CEC. read more.. P.A. Sangma to take complaint against Pranab Mukherjee to CEC over office of profit issue
Presidential contender P.A. Sangma plans to meet the chief election commissioner to complain against the returning officer's order rejecting his demand for disqualifying Pranab Mukherjee's candidature on the ground that he held an office of profit.Sangma will ask the Election Commission to intervene in the issue as, according to him, many issues have been left answered by the returning officer. read more.. Sangma to meet CEC on July 7 against Pranab's candidature
New Delhi: Opposition-backed Presidential candidate PA Sangma will meet the Chief Election Commissioner on July 7 to complain against the Returning Officer's order rejecting his demand for disqualifying Pranab Mukherjee's candidature on the ground that he held an Office of Profit.BJP leader SS Ahluwalia, who is representing his party in Sangma's campaign committee, said the opposition is not satisfied with the verdict given by Returning Officer VK Agnihotri. After a meeting here today, Sangma's Election campaign committee has decided to take the matter to the CEC. read more.. Subhas Chandra Bose Trust will play host to Sangma on FridayAhmedabad Presidential candidate P A Sangma’s campaign in Gujarat will be hosted by the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose-INA Trust, which seeks to project Bose as a taller leader than Mahatma Gandhi.Sangma will address a gathering hosted by the trust, which celebrates the Azad Hind Fauj’s raising day on Friday where Chief Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest. Addressing reporters, trust general secretary Brigadier (retired) R S Chhikara said they wished to appoint Modi as its national patron-in-chief. read more.. Prez poll: Sangma says his legal team going through RO's orderNew Delhi: Opposition backed Presidential candidate P A Sangma today said his legal team is going through the Returning Officer's ruling in the Pranab Mukherjee Office of Profit case and he would decide the future course of action after consulting his colleagues and supporters.The former Lok Sabha Speaker said he received a certified copy of the ruling of the Returning Officer (RO) last night and has gone through it. read more.. PA Sangma banks on legal relief against Pranab MukherjeePresidential candidate P.A. Sangma is likely to file an election petition, after the poll, against rival Pranab Mukherjee's candidature for allegedly forging his resignation letter to the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata.The Meghalaya tribal leader also wrote to the presidential election returning officer, asking for a copy of the latter's order rejecting his petition to disqualify Mukherjee from the race for holding an office of profit. read more.. Sangma studying RO's order on Office of Profit issue
Presidential candidate P A Sangma said on Thursday he would decide the future course of action on Office of profit issue after consulting his colleagues and supporters. He said that his legal team is presently going through the Returning Officer's ruling in the Pranab Mukherjee Office of Profit case.The former Lok Sabha Speaker said he received a certified copy of the ruling of the Returning Officer (RO) last night and has gone through it. After his legal team has studied the ruling of the RO, who is the Rajya Sabha Secretary General, a meeting of his campaign committee will be held to decide the future course of action, he told a press conference here organised by Jammu and Kashmir-based National Panthers Party to announce its support to him. read more.. Presidential poll: Sangma to decide today on petition against MukherjeeOpposition presidential candidate PA Sangma said on Thursday that a final decision on filing a formal complaint against the approval of Pranab Mukherjee's nomination would be taken after legal experts studied the order.The certified order from the returning officer rejecting their application against Mukherjee, the ruling United Progressive Alliance presidential candidate, came late Wednesday, Sangma told reporters. "The legal committee will study the order, after which the election campaign committee will meet and decide at 4.30 p.m. today," Sangma, who is being backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party, AIADMK and Biju Janata Dal, said, refusing to answer any more questions. read more.. Sangma threatens to go to court over PranabUnited Progressive Alliance presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee yesterday denied that the signature on his letter of resignation from the Kolkata-based Indian Statistical Institute was “forged” as his rival P A Sangma upped the ante and threatened to go to court. Sangma, who has the backing of several opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the July 19 presidential poll, had written to returning officer V K Agnihotri seeking a copy of his order rejecting the objection against Mukherjee’s candidature. In a two-hour meeting at BJP leader Sushma Swaraj’s residence in New Delhi, Sangma’s team discussed the option to approach court against Mukherjee’s nomination. The main opposition party, however, maintained that a final decision will be taken only after they get the copy of the order rejecting their objections to Mukherjee’s candidature. “We have surprisingly not received the order. We are waiting for the official copy and only then will we move court,” said Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy. Sources said the party was also pondering filing an election petition. read more..BJP threatens election petition against UPA's presidential nominee, Pranab MukherjeNEW DELHI: BJP on Wednesday vowed to file an election petition against UPA's presidential nominee, Pranab Mukherjee, though he rejected its charge that the letter of his resignation from the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, was fabricated."Who had forged my signature? I myself? I do not know what they have said. Who can forge his own signature? This issue we have debated at the office of the Returning Officer and the Returning Officer responded to that," Mukherjee told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram. "How can somebody lodge a complaint that you forged your own signature," he asked. BJP had said on Tuesday alleged that Mukherjee's resignation letter to the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) was fabricated. Congress brushed aside these allegations as, "frivolous, scandalous and legally untenable". Parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, the authorised representative of Mukherjee, said, "when you realise that winning the election is absolutely impossible, then you deploy such tricks. The Opposition nominee (PA Sangma) and the parties supporting his candidature should seriously ponder." read more.. Pranab survives Sangma googly, BJP waves 'fabricated' letterNEW DELHI: UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday managed to survive his opponent Purno A. Sangma's bid to get him out of the race on the ground that he was holding an office of profit, with the returning officer rejecting the contention.However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fired a fresh salvo at Mukherjee, claiming his letter quitting the Kolkata-based Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) was "fabricated", and warning it would pursue the matter. Former Lok Sabha speaker Sangma, backed by the BJP and other opposition parties, had Monday formally objected to Mukherjee contesting the presidential poll even as he continued as ISI's chairman, which is an office of profit. Rajya Sabha secretary general VK Agnihotri, who is the returning officer, rejected the objections. "After making summary inquiries, as required under the relevant provisions of the presidential and vice-presidential Election Act regarding conduct of scrutiny of nomination papers and after hearing both the parties in both the cases today (Tuesday), I, in my capacity as returning officer, overruled the objections raised in both the cases, as they were untenable and lacked merit," Agnihotri told reporters. read more.. Pranab's ISI resignation letter 'fabricated': BJPread more..Pranab's ISI resignation letter 'fabricated': BJPBJP today termed as "fabricated" the resignation letter of UPA Presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee from the Indian Statistical Institute and said it had all options open before it, including legal, and would decide on the matter soon.BJP also alleged the resignation letter of Mukherjee has been prepared only to save his nomination for the Presidential election and asked both Mukherjee and eminent scientist MGK Menon, who is the President of the Institute, to come clean on the issue. read more..Sangma demands RO order, BJP threatens poll petition against PranabNew Delhi/Chandigarh, Jul 4, 2012, (PTI) :Upping the ante over Pranab Mukherjee's nomination as UPA Presidential candidate, rival P A Sangma today demanded a copy of the Returning Officer's detailed order rejecting his objection to the Congress leader's candidature.As the opposition-backed candidate made the demand, BJP threatened to file an election petition, a day after it called as "fabricated" his letter of resignation from the Indian Statistical Institute(ISI). In his letter to the Returning Officer, Sangma has demanded that the copy of the detailed order be handed over to him by 5 pm today, as more than 24 hours have gone by after passing the order rejecting his objections. BJP leader S S Ahluwalia said "this is unprecedented." He said BJP will decide on further course of action only after a copy of the detailed order is received. Sangma, meanwhile, held a two-hour meeting at Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj's residence in Delhi to discuss further course of action on the matter. Sangma's counsel and BJP's legal cell head Satya Pal Jain spoke of the option of moving an election petition. "All options are open...election petition can be filed after the declaration of result...we will cross the bridge after receiving the copy of order on NDA's plea against Mukherjee," he told reporters in Chandigarh. read more.. Sangma demands RO's order rejecting his objections
Presidential candidate P A Sangma has written to the Presidential election Returning Officer seeking a copy of his detailed order rejecting Sangma's objection against the candidature of UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee.In his letter to the Returning Officer, Sangma has demanded that the copy of the order be handed over to him by 5 pm today as more than 24 hours have gone by after passing the order rejecting his objections. Confirming this, BJP leader S S Ahluwalia said "this is unprecedented." He said the BJP will decide on further course of action only after a copy of the detailed order is received. Ahluwalia, who was accompanied by BJP general secretary Ananthakumar, said let us wait for the copy of the detailed order and further action will follow only after studying it. Sangma, whose presidential candidature is supported by the BJP, BJD and AIADMK, meanwhile, held a two-hour meeting at the residence of Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj to discuss further course of action on the matter. read more.. Sangma demands RO's order rejecting his objectionsNew Delhi, Jul 4 (PTI) Presidential candidate P A Sangma has written to the Presidential election Returning Officer seeking a copy of his detailed order rejecting Sangma's objection against the candidature of UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee.In his letter to the Returning Officer, Sangma has demanded that the copy of the order be handed over to him by 5 pm today as more than 24 hours have gone by after passing the order rejecting his objections. read more.. PA Sangma seeks EC order on Pranab Mukherjee, may move courtNew Delhi: Presidential candidate PA Sangma will take a decision on moving court after getting a certified official copy from the returning officer on the rejection of his objections against Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) nominee Pranab Mukherjee, who has been accused of holding an office of profit.A meeting of the Sangma camp was held at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sushma Swaraj's residence in New Delhi on Wednesday where Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy said that they are waiting for the official order before taking any further action. "We have surprisingly not received the official certified order. The message we are been given is that the returning officer has given the order to the Election Commission. We are waiting for the official copy and only then we will move court," said Swamy after the two-hour meeting which was also attended by senior BJP leaders SS Ahluwalia and Ananthakumar. read more.. PA Sangma seeks EC order on Pranab Mukherjee, may move courtNew Delhi: Presidential candidate PA Sangma will take a decision on moving court after getting a certified official copy from the returning officer on the rejection of his objections against Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) nominee Pranab Mukherjee, who has been accused of holding an office of profit.A meeting of the Sangma camp was held at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sushma Swaraj's residence in New Delhi on Wednesday where Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy said that they are waiting for the official order before taking any further action. "We have surprisingly not received the official certified order. The message we are been given is that the returning officer has given the order to the Election Commission. We are waiting for the official copy and only then we will move court," said Swamy after the two-hour meeting which was also attended by senior BJP leaders SS Ahluwalia and Ananthakumar. read more.. Odisha: BJD faults Pranab Mukherjee for ‘backdated resignation’Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal and its youth wing, the Biju Yuva Janata Dal, on Tuesday protested Pranab Mukherjee’s candidature for the post of the President of India.The BJD condemned Mukherjee for holding an office of profit as Chairman of the Indian Statistical Institute at the time of filing his nomination papers and his subsequent resignation in back date to steer clear the validity of his candidature. The BJD, which first projected PA Sangma as the candidate for the top post of the country, also defended its supremo Naveen Patnaik’s allegation that Mukherjee as the Finance Minister had dolled out huge financial packages to three States — UP, Bihar and West Bengal — on the eve of his candidature keeping an eye on his election. “It is unbecoming on the part of the Congress as well as the former Union Finance Minister (Mukherjee) to dole out the packages to the three States just before the Presidential election," said two senior BJD vice-presidents, Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadai and Health Minister Prasanna Acharya. Questioning the role of Mukherjee and the Congress in both the cases, they lamented that the Congress being a national party has destroyed national integration and a balanced development of the country. "It is just like purchasing of votes, and the move has vitiated the process of the Presidential election," they said. They alleged that since the BJD is not supporting his candidature, Mukherjee did not give any financial package or special grant to a backward State like Odisha. The BYJD led by its president Sanjay Dasburma organised a protest rally at the Lower PMG on Tuesday condemning the role of Mukherjee in tendering his resignation from the ISI and the acceptance of the resignation letter in back date at the instance of Union Minister Srikant Jena. read more.. Straight fight between Pranab, SangmaThe July 19 presidential poll is all set to witness a straight fight between Mr Pranab Mukherjee and Mr P.A. Sangma after the nomination papers of other candidates got rejected during the scrutiny on Tuesday.Rajya Sabha Secretary-General V.K. Agnihotri, who is the returning officer in this election, overruled Mr Sangma’s objection regarding Mr Mukherjee’s eligibility to contest the election alleging he held an “office of profit”. Mr Agnihotri said that the objections were “untenable and lacked merit” under the provisions of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Act, 1952 and in the light of various judgments of the Supreme Court. While Mr Mukherjee is supported by over 20 political parties in the UPA and outside, Mr Sangma is backed by the BJP-BJD-AIADMK. “The final list of candidates will be made after the last day of withdrawal of nominations on Wednesday,” the returning officer told reporters after completion of scrutiny of papers. Mr Agnihotri said: “Upon conclusion of the entire scrutiny process held today, the nomination papers filed by Mr Pranab Mukherjee and Mr Purno Agitok Sangma were found to fulfil all the requirements of a valid nomination.” Mr Agnihotri, in his capacity as returning officer, overruled the objections raised by Mr Sangma through his authorised representative Satya Pal Jain. Mr Mukherjee’s authorised representative Pawan Kumar Bansal sought time to rebut the said objection on July 2 during the scrutiny of nomination papers of Mr Mukherjee. read more.. Sangma in Lucknow on July 11Lucknow Bharatiya Janata Party-supported presidential candidate P A Sangma will be in Lucknow on July 11 for his campaign. Sangma will meet BJP MPs and MLAs and other senior party leaders.BJP state president Laxmikant Bajpai said, “P A Sangma will visit Lucknow on July 11. The detailed programme is yet to come.” The BJP has 10 members in the Lok Sabha and three members in the Rajya Sabha from UP. The party also has 47 MLAs in UP, who are also members of the electoral college for the Presidential elections. One of the founders of the Nationalist Congress Party, Sangma had resigned from the party on June 20 after opposition from Sharad Pawar over his presidential candidature. read more.. Sangma to visit Gujarat, CM plans grand welcomeGandhinagar NDA presidential candidate P A Sangma will visit the state to meet BJP MLAs and MPs on July 6, a day after UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to the state.Chief Minister Narendra Modi has planned a cultural programme organised by the Indian National Army (INA) Trust called ‘Viratva Ki Yad Me’ on July 6, which P A Sangama will attend as the chief guest. Modi has also arranged a special lunch for Sangma at his residence. Gujarat BJP tribal leaders like assembly speaker Ganpat Vasava and tribal development minister Mangubhai Patel is also expected to meet Sangma. read more.. PA Sangma, BJP may challenge Pranab Mukherjee's nominationNew Delhi: Even though the nomination of Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Pranab Mukherjee was found to be valid by the returning officer, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders are meeting to decide whether to challenge his nomination in court or not.The meeting is taking place at BJP Lok Sabha MP and Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj's residence in New Delhi and is being attended by the leaders of all the political parties supporting former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma's candidature. Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy will be the key negotiator for Sangma. The BJP had alleged that Mukherjee's signature on the resignation letter to the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) had been forged. BJP leaders claim that Mukherjee's signature on the resignation letter, which he produced in his affidavit, was forged was different from his normal one. On Tuesday returning officer had accepted Mukherjee's nomination and over ruled Sangma's objection that the UPA candidate held an office of profit as the chairman of the ISI when he filed the nomination. read more.. A’bad on Pranab, Sangma’s Road to Raisina Hill
Ahmedabad: Presidential candidates Pranab Mukherjee and PA Sangma will be visiting Ahmedabad on Thursday to campaign for their election to the country’s top post. United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has nominated Mukherjee for the post while Sangma is backed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies.The former finance minister will be in Ahmedabad for less than half-a-day appealing to Congress MLAs of the state to vote in his favour. He will arrive in the post-lunch, will visit Sabarmati Ashram followed by a meeting with senior Congress leaders, MPs and MLAs of the state at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan in Paldi. He will culminate his visit at Sardar Patel memorial, Shahibaug and Gandhi Ashram late in the evening. Meanwhile, Sangma too will be here the same day and like his competition, will be visiting Sardar Patel memorial. The state BJP has made three senior leaders, national vice-president Purushottam Rupala, former minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama and senior leader Kanji Patle as the election in-charge for the Presidential polls. read more.. Pranab, Sangma in direct face-offNEW DELHI Opposition nominee PA Sangma’s attempts to trip UPA candidate and former finance minister Pranab Mukherjee’s presidential bid failed on Tuesday with the returning officer rejecting his objections, leaving both the candidates in the fray for a direct contest in the July 19 poll.“Only Pranab Mukherjee and Sangma are in the fray after their nomination papers were found valid in all respects. The final list of candidates will be made after the last day of withdrawal of nominations tomorrow,” Rajya Sabha Secretary General VK Agnihotri, the returning officer, told reporters after completion of scrutiny of papers. He declined to divulge the details or the reasoning behind the rejection of Sangma’s objection to Mukherjee’s candidature that the UPA nominee stood disqualified as he still held an office of profit, saying he has to get the clearance of the Election Commission. However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal, who appeared as Mukherjee’s representative along with Home Minister P Chidambaram before the returning officer, told reporters that Agnihotri accepted the argument that he had resigned from the post of Chairman of Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) on June 20, well before filing his nomination. He said the returning officer allowed their contention that the resignation was forwarded to the president of the ISI and also accepted his nomination papers. The ISI later in the day described as “untrue” the BJP’s allegation that Mukherjee’s letter quitting as chairperson was “fabricated”. “This is untrue. The letter is still in my custody. I know his signature. It cannot be forged,” the Kolkata-based institute’s director Bimal Roy said. read more.. Bhim Singh President of the Panthers Party met Sangma at his residence today
Bhim Singh President of the Panthers Party met Sangma at his residence today . Bhim Singh assured full supprt to Sangma and also told him that he and his team would campaign extensively for him.
Bhim Singh President of the Panthers Party met Sangma at his residence today
Bhim Singh President of the Panthers Party met Sangma at his residence today . Bhim Singh assured full supprt to Sangma and also told him that he and his team would campaign extensively for him.
Pranab Mukherjee's letter quitting Kolkata institute fabricated: BJPNEW DELHI: The BJP Tuesday claimed that UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee's letter quitting as chairperson of the Kolkata-based Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) was "fabricated"."The resignation filed by Pranab Mukherjee is fabricated; and it is unfortunate that people contesting for such high office are indulging in such kind of activities," said party general secretary Ananth Kumar. He was addressing a press conference hours after the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) presidential nominee's candidature was accepted. Contesting against Mukherjee is former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma, being backed by the BJP, AIADMK and the Biju Janata Dal. read more.. BJP ups ante, says Pranab's ISI resignation letter fakehe BJP on Tuesday claimed that UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee's letter quitting as chairperson of the Kolkata-based Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) was "fabricated"."The resignation filed by Pranab Mukherjee is fabricated; and it is unfortunate that peoplecontesting for such high office are indulging in such kind of activities," said Ananth Kumar, Bharatiya Janata Party national general secretary. He was addressing a press conference hours after the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) presidential nominee's candidature was accepted. read more.. President poll: BJP hits back at Pranab, says he forged papersNew Delhi: The race for Rashtrapati Bhawan gets uglier with the BJP alleging the Pranab Mukerjee's resignation letter at the Indian Statistical Institute which he produced in his affidavit was forged.This after the returning officer accepted Pranab's nomination and over ruled PA Sangma's objection that Pranab held an office of profit as the chairman of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) when he filed the nomination. The Returning Officer has decided that the UPA nominee had resigned before filing his nomination. He further said that after the scrutiny of all the nominations filed for the elections, only those of Sangma and Mukherjee were found to be valid. However, the Pranab camp, led by the Congress, had hit back saying Mukherjee had resigned from all the posts he held, including that of the ISI chairman, before filing his nomination. The ISI Kolkata had also backed the former finance minister saying the post of its chairman was an honorary one, and not an office of profit. read more.. Hope Pranab's nomination gets rejected: Sangma
P A Sangma, former speaker and a candidate for the President's post, on Monday expressed hope that the Election Commission was aware of the fact that United Progressive Alliance's candidate Pranab Mukherjee held an office of profit while filing his nomination for the post.Speaking to rediff.com while attending the wedding reception of Bharatiya Janata Party chief Nitin Gadkari's son in New Delhi , he expressed hope that when the scrutiny of papers takes place on Tuesday, Mukherjee's nomination gets rejected as he still held the post of the chairman of the Indian Statistical Institute in Kolkata. "I am hopeful of the rejection of my opponent's nomination," Sangma said. read more.. Sangma’s nomination papers accepted
The nomination papers of P.A. Sangma for the Presidential poll were on Tuesday accepted by the returning officer after scrutiny.The nomination papers and related documents were in order and were accepted by Returning Officer V.K. Agnihotri, who is also Secretary General of Rajya Sabha, officials said. Some objections like anomalies in the list of proposers and seconders were raised by certain individuals against Mr. Sangma but these were rejected by the returning officer, they said. The scrutiny of the nominations for the July 19 poll were to end on Monday but objections raised against Mr. Sangma and UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee prompted the returning officer to defer these two cases till Tuesday. Mr. Sangma had demanded rejection of Mr. Mukherjee’s nomination under the Office of Profit rules, claiming that the former Finance Minister was the Chairman of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI). Mr. Mukherjee has been given time to reply to the complaint and there will be a hearing on the issue later Tuesday. read more.. Pranab Mukherjee to reply to office of profit chargePranab Mukherjee, the presidential candidate of India's ruling Congress party-led alliance, is due to reply to allegations by a rival candidate that he is ineligible for the office. PA Sangma has alleged Mr Mukherjee held an office of profit when he filed his nomination last week.The government has denied the allegation. Indian laws bar presidential candidates from holding any office of profit at the time of filing nominations. Elections for India's 13th president will be held on 19 July. The winner will replace Pratibha Patil. Mr Mukherjee is a front-runner for the presidency. He resigned as India's finance minister last week.. Mr Sangma, who is being backed by the main-opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleged that Mr Mukherjee held the position of the chairman of the Indian Statistical Institute, a leading research school, at the time of filing his nomination. He has also filed a petition with the election authorities seeking the cancellation of Mr Mukherjee's nomination. The government has rejected the claim, saying Mr Mukherjee resigned as the head of the research school on 20 June, a week before he filed his nomination. read more.. Sangma's nomination papers for Prez poll accepted
The nomination papers of opposition-backed PA Sangma for the Presidential poll were on Tuesday accepted by the returning officer after scrutiny.The nomination papers and related documents were in order and were accepted by returning officer VK Agnihotri, who is also Secretary General of Rajya Sabha, officials said. Some objections like anomalies in the list of proposers and seconders were raised by certain individuals against Sangma but these were rejected by the returning officer, they said. The scrutiny of the nominations for the July 19 poll were to end on Monday, but objections raised against Sangma and UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee prompted the returning officer to defer these two cases till Tuesday. Sangma has tried to scuttle Mukherjee's Presidential bid by claiming violation under Office of Profit rules. read more.. Pranab’s Fate As Presidential Nominee to be Decided TodayTeams of Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee and former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma are all set for the final face off in Parliament on Tuesday over the allegation that the former still hold the office of benefit as Chairman of Indian Statistical Institute.The objections raised by Sangam's team will come up for debate before Secretary General of Rajya Sabha, who is also the Returning Officer for the polls. Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Parliamentary Affairs Minister PK Bansal will represent former finance minister during the course of argument, while BJP leader Satpal Jain will counter Pranab's team on behalf of Sangma. read more.. Meghalaya’s UDP to support Sangma in presidential pollShillong: The United Democratic Party, a part of Meghalaya's Congress-led coalition government, has decided to support former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma in the July 19 presidential election."The parliamentary party has unanimously decided to support Sangma as he is a local and tribal from the state (Meghalaya) and also an independent candidate in the presidential elections," UDP chief and former chief minister Donkupar Roy told journalists. The decision was taken in the parliamentary party meeting Monday, he said. The UDP has ten legislators in the 60-member Meghalaya assembly. Asked why the UDP decided to support Sangma and not United Progressive Alliance candidate Pranab Mukherjee especially when the UDP is backing the Congress government, UDP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Bindo Mathew Lanong said: "This election has no bearing with the state government. read more.. Pranab to respond to Sangma's objection today
New Delhi: United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee will on Tuesday respond to the PA Sangma's objection against his nomination.On Monday, Sangma wrote to Rajya Sabha Secretary General V K Agnihotri, who is the returning officer for the Presidential elections, claiming that Pranab was the Chairman of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) and therefore his nomination should be rejected under the Office of Profit rules. The BJP too stepped up the attack on Pranab and said his nomination would be rejected. "Pranab was the chairman of Indian Statistical Institute and has continued to be so. Article 102, has a power to Parliament that we can exempt a member to file nomination... I am confident that the nomination will be rejected and Sangma shall become President," said BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad. read more.. Sangma wants Pranab debarred from poll for holding 'office of profitThe race to Raisina Hill got murkier on Monday with NDA ally BJD and its presidential candidate P.A. Sangma demanding that UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee be debarred from contesting. Sangma alleged that Mukherjee has violated rules by holding an office of profit when he filed nomination papers for the top job on June 28. However, the Congress and the government strongly denied the charge dubbing it baseless. read more..BJP asks its CMs to garner support for SangmaIt was a very hot and difficult Monday for the BJP, as it spent the day managing the dissent in Karnataka and then introducing its presidential candidate PA Sangma to its chief ministers in an effort to ensure that he gets all BJP votes.The meeting of all BJP chief ministers and the party’s central leaders was held at the residence of NDA acting chairman LK Advani on Monday evening. Former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma, who is fighting the election backed by the AIADMK, the BJD and the BJP-led NDA, was also present. A BJP leader said the main purpose of the meeting was to introduce Sangma to the BJP chief ministers and to tell them to ensure that he gets all the BJP votes. read more.. Pranab holds office of profit, can't contest Prez polls: SangmaOpposition Presidential nominee P A Sangma today sought the cancellation of Pranab Mukherjee's nomination as President on grounds that he is chairman of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI).In a complaint to the Secretary General, Rajya Sabha, who is the returning officer for the Presidential election, Sangma's lawyer Satpal Jain demanded that Mukherjee's papers be cancelled at the scrutiny stage as he holds an office of profit. Jain said that Mukherjee is chairperson of ISI and, hence, cannot contest the Presidential poll under the Office of Profit rules. Today is the last day for the scrutiny of forms for the Presidential election. The last date of withdrawal of candidature is July 4. read more.. I will be India's next President: PA SangmaShillong: Former Lok Sabha speaker Purno Agitok Sangma is supremely confident of winning the Presidential Election to become India's new head of state, saying if "Obama, who is a black, can become the President of America, why not a tribal in India?""I have never lost any election in the past. In fact, every time I contested, my margins have increased with the blessings of almighty God and the people," Sangma said in an interview here. "I will get through in this election (as well)," he added, seemingly unfazed by his rival United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate, Pranab Mukherjee. Sangma is backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Biju Janata Dal, AIADMK and some other parties. read more.. The BJP on Monday objected to Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee's nomination for the presidential election on account of his holding an office of profit.BJP leader Satpal Jain alleged that the UPA nominee has been holding the post of chairman Indian Statistical Institute (ISI). He lodged a formal complaint with the returning officer during the scrutiny of nominations.However, Mukherjee's office rebutted the BJP claim saying the veteran Congressman had resigned from the ISI office long ago. It claimed that Mukherjee has not been drawing salary or any allowances entitled to him as the ISI chairman. read more.. Cancel Pranab's nomination, he holds office of profit: SangmaOpposition Presidential nominee PA Sangma on Monday sought cancellation of nomination of UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee under the Office of Profit rules on the ground that he is Chairman of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI).Indian Statistical Institute, however, has reportedly stated that Pranab Mukherjee resigned from his post on June 20. In a complaint to the Secretary General, Rajya Sabha, who is the returning officer for the Presidential election, Sangma's lawyer Satpal Jain demanded that Mukherjee's papers be cancelled at the scrutiny stage as he holds an office of profit. Jain said that Mukherjee is chairperson of ISI and, hence, cannot contest the Presidential poll under the Office of Profit rules. read more.. Coincidence turns Prez race into ‘regional battle’ again!It was not intended that way, but the presidential contests in 2002, 2007 and 2012 have turned out to be between individuals from certain regions.UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee and NDA nominee PA Sangma happen to be from the east, Mukherjee from West Bengal and Sangma from Meghalaya. This was a pure accident. Neither Mukherjee nor Sangma regard themselves as from the unrepresented eastern India as far as the president’s office is concerned. In 2007, UPA candidate Pratibha Devisingh Patil was from Maharashtra and Bhairon Singh Shekhawat from Rajasthan. Both of them in a way belonged to the western region. Patil was connected to Rajasthan because her husband, Devisnh, hails from Rajasthan. This was again a first for the western region in terms of the president’s office. read more.. PA Sangma reverts to original position on foreign origin issueOpposition-backed Presidential candidate PA Sangma, who had revised his position on Sonia Gandhi becoming Prime Minister, today reverted to his original stand that a person of foreign origin should not become Prime Minister of the country."That is my view now. That will be my view in future... till I die. I will never support any foreigner to be Prime Minister or President of India. I am very clear about it," Sangma said today. Sangma, who had opposed Sonia Gandhi's candidature for Prime Ministership in 1999 along with Sharad Pawar and others and walked out of the Congress to form NCP, later revised his position. On May 22, 2012, Sangma had said, "That is a forgotten issue. A closed chapter. I had gone and apologised to her (Sonia Gandhi), saying you had a chance to be the Prime Minister, you had the numbers, yet you declined. I am very happy. Let us forget the past. And she said yes, let us forget the past." read more.. Presidential hopeful PA Sangma rakes up Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin again
New Delhi: Presidential hopeful and former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma has once again raised the issue of Congress President's Sonia Gandhi's foreign issue. Sangma launched his diatribe in Guwahati on Saturday following former president APJ Abdul Kalam's revelation that he (Kalam) could not have blocked Sonia's elevation as the Prime Minister after the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) won the Lok Sabha elections in 2004 had she wanted to.
read more..
Naveen Patnaik questions financial packages to states given by Pranab Mukherjee
Bhubaneswar: Hitting out at UPA's presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee for providing financial packages to West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday sought to know the motive behind doling out hefty funds to these states.During his tenure as the Finance Minister, Mukherjee had doled out lakhs of crore of rupees to West Bengal, Bihar and UP, Patnaik told reporters on his return here from a five-day visit to Delhi. read more.. BJP lends Ahluwalia, Ananth Kumar to assist SangmaA day after P A Sangma filed his nomination papers as opposition candidate against ruling UPA’s presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee, the BJP on Friday decided to lend two of its senior party leaders to assist Sangma’s presidential bid.The BJP announced that it has assigned party general secretary Ananth Kumar and senior party leader S S Ahluwalia to “assist” Sangma in his presidential election management till the polling on July 19. read more.. Centre picks holes in Odisha CM's champion of tribal rights credoNEW DELHI: The Centre has told Odisha that transit and sale of bamboo by tribals was being denied in the state in violation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), a complaint which is at odds with CM Naveen Patnaik's bid to position himself as champion of tribal rights by pushing for P A Sangma for President.Union tribal affairs minister Kishore Chandra Deo on Thursday wrote a letter to Patnaik, complaining that forest authorities were not allowing transit permit to a gram sabha in Kalahandi district to sell harvested bamboo, despite FRA giving them a claim over minor forest produce. read more.. I love PA Sangma, but no scope for a debate: Pranab MukherjeeNew Delhi: UPA's Presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee on Friday rejected his competitor PA Sangma's demand for a debate. Speaking to IBN18 Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai, Pranab said, "I love Sangma, but where is the question of a debate?"He said since India doesn't follow the US Presidential system where the President is the policy maker, so there was no scope for a debate. "There is no issue to be debated upon. Debate takes place on issues raised by political parties during general elections," Pranab added. Pranab also said he hoped to get Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's support for his candidature, "I hope she takes a decision at an appropriate time and backs me." When asked whether he was hurt by Mamata's support for APJ Abdul Kalam, Pranab said, "Mamata thought Kalam was a better choice. She had every right to choose her candidate. But I continue to appeal to her to support my candidature." read more.. Sangma hails Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik; denounces Congress for not supporting tribal candidateNew Delhi: Former Lok Sabha speaker and Presidential nominee PA Sangama praises Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for announcing his name first as presidential candidate. He said this at the Constitutional Club in New Delhi before filing his nomination paper.Sangma on Thursday lashed out at the Congress for not supporting a tribal in the race to Raisina Hills. He said that Tribals have always stood along with the Congress. But the party did not come out to support tribal cause. Sangma also hailed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jaylitha and NDA leadership for supporting his candidature. Sangma has filed his nomination papers for the July 19 Presidential election at around 2:30pm. Sangma's candidature has been supported by the BJD, BJP, SAD and AIADMK. Today he was accompanied by Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, LK Advani, Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy, Arun Jaitely, Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari, MM Joshi, Punjab CM Prakash Singh Badal, AIADMK leader A Thambidurai, Goa CM Manohar Parikar and other leaders. read more.. Congress rejected my appeal for a tribal President: Arvind Netam
New Delhi: A day after being suspended from the Congress for backing PA Sangma's Presidential nomination, Arvind Netam has told CNN-IBN that the party rejected his appeal for a tribal president. He has predicted it will affect the Congress's tribal vote bank."I had appealed to the Congress for a tribal President. I gave the names of myself, SC Jamir and KC Deo but the Congress didn't listen. The party is not in a good position in Chattisgarh and the tribal votes will be affected," Netam said. He also appealed to Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to support Sangma's candidature. Netam, however, denied having any plans of joining the NDA. read more.. Sangma hails Odisha CM Naveen pATNAIK; denounces Congress for not supporting tribal candidate
New Delhi: Former Lok Sabha speaker and Presidential nominee PA Sangama praises Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for announcing his name first as presidential candidate. He said this at the Constitutional Club in New Delhi before filing his nomination paper.Sangma on Thursday lashed out at the Congress for not supporting a tribal in the race to Raisina Hills. He said that Tribals have always stood along with the Congress. But the party did not come out to support tribal cause. Sangma also hailed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jaylitha and NDA leadership for supporting his candidature... read more.. Congress suspends tribal leader Arvind Netam for backing SangmaNEW DELHI: Congress on Thursday suspended tribal leader Arvind Netam for backing P A Sangma in the July 19 President's election.The party was stung by its veteran from Chhattisgarh addressing a press conference with Sangma and strongly advocating the north-east leader's candidature after he filed his nomination. Sangma has positioned himself as an ST leader, arguing that it was time for a tribal to occupy the top constitutional post. Netam on Thursday said the Tribal Forum of India, which has sponsored Sangma, reached out to all political parties for support, but Congress had failed to respond. "We are happy that Sangma is a candidate from the Tribal Forum of India," he said. read more.. BJP to lasso Pranab with long rope of economic hardshipThe BJP will target UPA Presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee for “mismanaging” the economy during his four-year tenure as Finance Minister.While canvassing support for PA Sangma in the Presidential poll, the BJP will assert that Mukherjee was equally responsible for rising prices and overall mishandling of the economy. “Pranab Mukherjee has become a symbol of failed governance and corruption. Therefore, we want to defeat him. Sangma is our joint candidate, with parties like BJD, AIADMK, SAD, AGP and we will help him win,” said BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar after a meeting of party’s core group on Thursday. He added, “The country is facing a very, very serious crisis under the Congress and UPA Government because of its failed governance and rising prices and rampant corruption as well as series of scams.” At the core group meeting, senior BJP leaders discussed the strategy for Presidential election. They decided to take all efforts to ensure that its legislators and MPs vote for the former Meghalaya Chief Minister, who is in the fray despite numbers not being on his side. read more.. Sangma files papers, says it's a victory for tribals
NEW DELHI: Opposition candidate P A Sangma on Thursday filed his nomination for the presidential polls against Pranab Mukherjee, playing up the tribal card to appeal to voters across the political spectrum.He was flanked by BJP seniors L K Advani, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Ananth Kumar and party chief Nitin Gadkari, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal and Goa CM Manohar Parrikar among others as he signed the nomination papers at the Rajya Sabha secretariat. read more.. Kirori Lal Meena advocates Sangma for President
Jaipur: After failing to unite the disgruntled legislatures from the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to forge a third front in Rajasthan, maverick tribal leader and Dausa MP Kirori Lal Meena has decided to garner support for the BJP-backed presidential nominee and former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma.The Dausa MP met Sangma on Wednesday morning for more than two hours and assured the latter that he will back his candidature for the top post. read more.. Tribal leaders are unitedly backing me: PA Sangama.jpg)
PA Sangma on Thursday claimed tribal leaders cutting across party lines are unitedly behind him and took potshots at Congress for not standing by his candidature for the President's post despite enjoying the support of tribals for decades."I only want to express that tribals in India have all along stood by Congress party. We had expected that Congress party would welcome and consider a tribal as its candidate," Sangma said, maintaining that Congress President Sonia Gandhi did not even give him an appointment for which he waited for three days. "Many political parties have positively responded to our (Tribal Forum of India) request. But the largest political party with whom tribals have stood all along--the Indian National Congress--did not come out to support the cause of tribals. They will know the effect of this action," he said. The tribal leader filed his nomination papers in the presence of BJP veteran LK Advani, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, BJP chief Nitin Gadkari, H Ananth Kumar, Rajnath Singh, Venkaiah Naidu, Vasundhara Raje, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Janta Party chief Subramaniyan Swamy and Thambidurai of AIADMK. read more.. Sangma files nomination
New Delhi: Former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma on Thursday filed his nomination papers for the office of the President of India, election for which will be held on July 19.
The tribal leader filed his nomination papers in the presence of BJP veteran LK Advani, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, BJP chief Nitin Gadkari, H Ananth Kumar, Rajnath Singh, Venkaiah Naidu, Vasundhara Raje, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Janta Party chief Subramaniyan Swamy and Thambidurai of AIADMK. read more.. Indian presidential race begins today
The race for India's presidency begins today as UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee, and opposition BJP-backed PA Sangma submit their nomination papers amid clear signs that the ruling alliance will win with a thumping majority. read more.. Naveen Patnaik leaves for Delhi to back PA Sangma
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik left for New Delhi from Bhubaneswar on Wednesday to be present while former Lok Sabha speaker P A Sangma filed his nomination for the presidential election on Thursday, an official said.read more.. Hoping Stone to support Purno’s Presidency bidShillong: Veteran State politician and HSPDP supremo Hoping Stone Lyngdoh has decided to extend his support to former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno Agitok Sangma in his bid to make it to Rashtrapati Bhawan.“I have decided to support Purno since he is a political leader from the State. I strongly feel that he will be more in tune with the problems afflicting our State,” Lyngdoh said while speaking to reporters here on Wednesday. read more.. Top BJP leaders including Narendra Modi to be present during PA Sangma's nomination
New Delhi: Making its intentions clear in backing its presidential candidate PA Sangma all the way, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will put up a show of strength tomorrow when the former Lok Sabha speaker files his nomination.read more.. Naveen Patnaik to accompany PA Sangma in filing nomination
BHUBANESWAR: Describing P A Sangma as a prominent tribal and minority leader, Odisha Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik today said he would accompany the Presidential aspirant during filing of his nomination in Delhi tomorrow.
"Sangma is BJD's candidate. We first announced his name for the top post in mid-May and later other political parties supported him," Patnaik told reporters shortly before leaving for Delhi. read more.. Presidential candidate PA Sangma meets Mamata BanerjeeKOLKATA: Presidential candidate PA Sangma on Tuesday began talks with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee seeking her vote for his bid for the top post. Sangma, who arrived in the city on Monday night, went to the state secretariat Writers' Buildings for talks with the Trinamool Congress chief.read more.. Prez polls: P A Sangma meets Mamata Banerjeeread more.. Prez poll: Sangma meets Mamata, seeks TMC’s supportNew Delhi: Former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma on Tuesday met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee seeking her party Trinamool Congress’ support to his candidature for the president’s post. Sangma’s meeting with Mamata Banerjee at the Writers’ Building is crucial since the Trinamool Congress chief had earlier refused to meet him. “My meeting with Mamata didi was good. I am very happy with the outcome of the meeting. I am going back with hope that her party will support me,” Sangma told reporters after meeting the West Bengal Chief Minister.read more.. Sangma will emerge victorious in President poll: Swamy New Delhi: Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy on Monday claimed that NDA's Presidential candidate PA Sangma would emerge victorious in the July 19 poll as it will be held through secret ballot. read more.. Agatha Sangma on why her father should be the next PresidentA Sangma's daughter welcomes all tribal and politicians support for her father to become the President. "The BJP has not nominated my father just because he is a tribal leader, they have also seen his qualities," she said. read more.. Conrad Sangma, son of PA Sangma to visit Odisha Bhubaneswar: Conrad Sangma, son of PA Sangmais scheduled to visit Odisha on Tuesday . Conrado, who is also the Leader of Oppostion of the Megahalaya Assembly, will meet BJD chief and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, State BJP leaders and leaders of other political parties, seeking their support in favour of his father in his race to Rashtrapati Bhawan. read more.. Prez poll: Agatha appeals tribal MPs, MLAs to back Sangma Imphal, Jun 25: Union minister Agatha Sangma on Monday said it would be a "welcome gesture" if tribal MPs and MLAs voted for her father PA Sangma in the Jul 19 Presidential election. "I would say that is up to them. It would be a welcome gesture. As a tribal, it would be a welcome gesture," Agatha told reporters here when repeatedly asked whether she felt all tribal MPs and MLAs should vote for her father. read more.. Congress playing dirty with Sangma? Former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma, who is contesting the upcoming presidential election, was humiliated in Hyderabad on Monday when he was denied permission to meet YSR Congress party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in the Chanchalguda prison by jail authorities, allegedly at the instructions of the ruling Congress party. read more.. Sangma targets Pranab for economic slowdown BJP-backed Presidential poll candidate P A Sangma on Sunday targeted Finance Minister and UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee for the economic slowdown. "If the rupee is at an all time low, if the international rating for credit has been downgraded, (there is) so much of corruption, who is responsible...?" he asked. Sangma, who is supported by BJP, AIADMK and BJD, was talking to reporters here during a visit to the Golden Temple. read more.. UPA partners will also vote for me, says Sangma Former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma, who is in the race for the President’s post and is backed by BJP and some of its allies, said on Sunday he would not only get votes of the members of NDA allies, but also that of UPA partners. He was in Amritsar to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple. Accompanied by BJP MP from Amritsar Navjot Singh Sidhu and Akali leaders Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Prem Singh Chandumajra, Sangma said he was hopeful of getting elected as President. “The President does not belong to any single party, but is common for all. During Presidential polls the party whip is immaterial. Secret ballot takes place and I am sure in this type of voting, members of UPA ally parties would also vote for me,” he asserted. read more.. 
read more..PA Sangma dares Pranab Mukherjee to TV duel, Congress rejects offer NEW DELHI: The race for Rashtrapati Bhavan threatened to turn 'presidential' in the American way when opposition candidate PA Sangma challenged finance minister Pranab Mukherjee for a debate on economic decline and corruption under his watch and Congress termed it irrelevant on the grounds that the high office was not part of the government. The day after BJP declared its support for Sangma, the former Lok Sabha Speaker came out all guns blazing, daring the sureshot winner Mukherjee to a duel, in an unprecedented bid to take the issue of who becomes the president out of an electoral college stacked in Mukherjee's favour and to use the occasion as a launch pad for campaign against Congress. read more.. P.A. Sangma challenges Pranab Mukherjee for a debateA day after his run for the country's highest office received the BJP's backing, P.A. Sangma challenged his opponent Pranab Mukherjee for a presidential debate on the lines of the United States."...People have the right to choose and there should be a debate at a time when the economy is sinking and scams are unimaginable... It has to be a candidate to candidate debate." he told TV channels. While calling Pranab his great friend and guru for whom he had a lot of respect, Sangma, at the same time, took digs at him. "One section of people in Bengal are asking what Pranabda has done for the state?" he said. read more.. Naveen for consensus on former Speaker Calling for a consensus in favour of tribal leader and Presidential candidate PA Sangma, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday said the former Lok Sabha Speaker is gradually “gathering strength” in the race for the top post. “Sangma is gradually gathering strength at the national level,” Patnaik told reporters replying a question about the prospects of the former Lok Sabha Speaker in the ensuing Presidential election. read more.. PA Sangma is gathering strength: Naveen Patnaik Maintaining that former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma is gradually "gathering strength" in the race for Presidential polls, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said there should be a consensus in favour of the tribal leader for the top post. read more.. Presidential poll: Mamata Banerjee should rationally support P A Sangma, says Sushma Swaraj BHOPAL: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj today said that Trinamool Congress President and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should rationally extend support to BJP-backed candidate, P A Sangma for the presidential polls. "Mamata's candidate was former President APJ Abdul Kalam who has refused to contest the Presidential polls so rationally, she should have supported Sangma, who is a capable leader from the Northeast," Swaraj told reporters after courting arrest as part of the BJP's nation-wide protest on the issue or rising prices of food items and petrol.read more.. President poll: I have never lost an election, says PA Sangma New Delhi: Even as UPA's Presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee emerges as a possible winner in the Presidential race, former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma said he was very much in the race and was confident of winning the election. Speaking to IBN18 Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai, Sangma said, "I've never lost any election. In fact my winning margin has increased with every election." When asked if he was just fighting a token election with a clear winner, Sangma said the fight wasn't a token fight, it was serious. "The Presidential election is not at all a token fight, it's a serious fight. The split within the NDA and other parties indicates that it's a serious election," Sangma said. Speaking about the NDA split, Sangma said, "Even Pranab hasn't got the entire UPA's support." Sangma said he was confident of winning the election as the voting takes place through secret ballot. "The voting takes place through secret ballot, so the question of numbers doesn't arise at the moment. I am confident of conscience votes."read more.. BJP supports Sangma to address aspiration of tribals: Smriti IraniBJP leader Smriti Irani on Friday said that her party supports the candidature of PA Sangma for the Presidential election to give a boost to the aspirations of the tribals and the Northeast region. "BJP has supported the candidature of the tribal leader from Northeast P Sangma in order to provide equal opportunities to the region and tribal people...," Irani told reporters here. "We does not believe in slogans and statement like Congress, which claims that they well wishers of poor and tribal people of the country...," she said. People from the Northeast have always raised the issue with the party that they are not given equal opportunities when it comes to power, the Rajya Sabha member said.read more..Conscience of the country will help me win the President poll: PA SangmaFormer Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma is confident of winning the Presidential election despite UPA's Presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee emerging stronger with more support. Sangma, however, feels he will win with the help of conscience votes. Speaking to IBN18 Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai, Sangma said he had never lost any election so far and would win this one too.Following is the full transcript of Rajdeep Sardesai's interview with Purno Agitok Sangma: Rajdeep Sardesai: Joining us now is Purno Agitok Sangma, the man who will be taking on Pranab Mukherjee in the Presidential race. Appreciate you're joining us Mr Sangma. Let me at the very start ask you is this a token fight sir? Given the fact that the numbers are so heavily stacked in favour of Pranab Mukherjee, would you concede that this is a token fight, you're almost certain to lose but you're determined to fight? read more.. Sangma will emerge victorious in Prez polls: SwamyAsserting that P A Sangma would emerge victorious in the Presidential polls, National Democratic Alliance ally Janata Party National President Subramanian Swamy claimed there would be cross-voting from the Congress in his favour."I am confident that Sangma would emerge victorious in the Presidential polls...Congress will witness 25 per cent split in its vote in the election, which is through secret ballot," Swamy told reporters. On Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar and Shiv Sena [ Images ] Supremo Bal Thackeray's [ Images ] stand on Sangma, Swamy said that during course of campaigning they would ultimately support him. About SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav [ Images ], Swamy said that he had talked to him over phone and suggested him to leave the UPA to save his "atmsamman (self pride)".read more.. Pranab is my guru, but I will contest for democracy: Sangma to NDTV PA Sangma, who is running for President of India against Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, spoke to NDTV. read more.. |
|
| Feedback |