By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: On the eve of the Presidential poll, AICC secretary Sanjay Bapna on Wednesday stated that Opposition candidate and former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno Agitok Sangma would not get the support of even 100 MLAs from the North Eastern region including those of Sikkim.
“Out of the 508 MLAs from the region, I am pretty sure that he (Sangma) would not be getting the support of even 100 legislators,” Bapna said during an informal interaction with the media here on Wednesday.
He also stated that UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee was leading in all the states of the region including Sikkim. “Out of 60 MLAs in Arunachal Pranab would be supported by 55 to 57 MLAs which include 46 Congress legislators,” Bapna said, adding, “Out of the 40 MLAs in Mizoram, we would be getting the support of around 34 to 36 MLAs which include 32 party MLAs.”
Bapna was also confident that out of the 118 MLAs in Assam, they would be getting the votes of more than 100 MLAs, while in Tripura Pranab would get the support of more than 55 MLAs including ten party MLAs.
“We would get the support of more than 50 MLAs each in Manipur and Nagaland,” he added.
He was critical of Sangma’s use of the ‘tribal card’ to contest the Presidential poll.
“I don’t think it is right to contest the election by attributing to a particular section of the society. After being elected, one cannot be the President of one particular community. He/she shall represent as the President of the whole nation,” the AICC secretary said.
Bapna also agreed that only a miracle would allow Sangma to emerge victorious in the Presidential election.
“If this miracle happens I would definitely congratulate Sangma. But as it stands at present, Mukherjee would be winning the election with a thumping majority,” Bapna added.