By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Union Minister of State for Communication and Information and Technology, Sachin Pilot, on Tuesday expressed hope that his colleague in the Union Cabinet and NCP MP, Agatha Sangma, would support UPA presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee.
When asked if he would call upon Agatha to persuade with her father, former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno Agitok Sangma, not to contest the Presidential election, Pilot refrained from answering the query.
“It is for him (Purno) to take a call on whether he would contest or not. My only contention is that since NCP is a part and parcel of the UPA, she (Agatha) is expected to support Mukherjee for the post of President,” Pilot said.
He further said that NCP chief Sharad Pawar had already pledged his support for Mukherjee’s candidature.
“I personally would like to see Mukherjee becoming the President of the nation,” he added.
The NCP has already warned PA Sangma not to go ahead with the decision to contest the Presidential poll and had even directed his daughter Agatha to refrain from
canvassing for her father and to support the UPA nominee.
In Meghalaya, the NCP, which is in the Opposition, has already extended support to Sangma, a sitting legislator from Tura, West Garo Hills.
The UDP, a coalition partner in the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance government, is also in favour of Sangma’s candidature.