Report by Priyabrata Nayak, Bhubaneswar: In his last campaigning tour former Speaker of  Lok Sabha, P.A. Sangama today came to meet Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik and the members of the electoral college hailed from BJD.

Later Sangma went to State Bharatiya Janata Party legislators and MP’s. In a function consisting of BJD Legislators and MP’s at party office here, Naveen welcome Sangma with a short speech in Odia.

BJD President Naveen Pattnaik said, Sanma is the candidate of BJD. We have nominated him first on 17th of may. 45 hours later this voice was echoed at Chennai as AIDMK Chief and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Jaya Lalitha supported Sangma’s candidature. Then about month later national parties like BJP, BSP, Akalidal, Assam Gana Parishad and other national along with several state parties agreed with it.  We are very proud of our decision to choose you as the presidential candidate. In his speech Sangma said, this is an honor and privilege for me to became first nominated by Biju Janta Dal. When tribal Forum of India proposed my candidature to Naveenji, he immediately gave his nod, on behalf of his party. Later on other political parties supported Naveenji’s decision. As of now 18 political parties are supporting my candidature, some are yet to take decision on me also some other parties internally decided to choose my candidature. I can assure all of you that I will taste the Victory.

Sangma also said, in my early days, I wrote a book named, After Neheru Who? There was only one person, and he was none other than the greatest leader of Odisha, Late Biju Pattnaik. In 1977 I first met him when I became an MP. He had a great personality. I was one of the admirers among number of young MP’s that time, he said. Nominated by the son of that greatest leader, I fell really honored. I thank Naveen pattnaik for his courage. He is the first person in the country, to nominate a tribal leader for the highest post of our country, he added. 

On this occasion almost all the Legislators and MP;s of BJD were present there, except Rajya Sabha member Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, Cuttack Sadar Legislator Pravat Biswal and Jatni Legislator Bibhuti balbant Ray, who are suspended from the Party after May 29th  coup Naveen Pattnaik. In today’s function it also seen that, the expelled ministers Sarada Prasad Nayak, Sanjib Sahu and Anjali Behera were sitting isolated among their party members.