Sangma Fails to Get Mamata's Support

Kolkata: Presidential candidate Purno A Sangma on Tuesday sought support from West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee but failed to get it.

Sangma termed the meeting as "very good" and said he was leaving Kolkata with a "lot of hope". Banerjee told him that a decision on supporting him would be taken after discussions in the party.

"I had come to request Mamatadi for support. The meeting was very good. Apart from the presidential polls, we also discussed the political scenario in the country.

"I am very happy about the outcome of the meeting and I am going back with a lot of hope regarding Mamatadi's support," Sangma told reporters after the 30-minute talks at the state secretariat, Writers' Building.

Addressing a large part of the media meet in Bengali, Sangma recalled how Banerjee had helped him when he left the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in 2004. Sangma had then merged his faction with the Trinamool.

"This time too I am hopeful of her support. The final decision is yet to be taken," said the former Lok Sabha speaker.

Railway minister and Trinamool general secretary Mukul Roy said the party was in no hurry to announce its stand.

"Sangmaji has asked for our support. After discussing the matter within, we will announce our stand at the right time and inform him. There is still a lot of time left. So there is no need to hurry," said Roy.

Pitted against UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee, Sangma has the backing of the Bharatiya Janata Party and some constituents of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as also the AIADMK and the Biju Janata Dal.