Pranab Denies 'Forged' Signature, Sangma to Move Court

New Delhi: UPA presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday denied that the signature on his letter of resignation from the Kolkata-based ISI was “forged” even as Team 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 19 July presidential poll, had written to returning officer VK Agnihotri seeking a copy of his order rejecting the objection against the candidature of Mukherjee, fielded by the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

The Election Commission directed Agnihotri to give details of the scrutiny proceedings and the order rejecting Sangma’s objection to Mukherjee’s candidature to him.

“When he (Agnihotri) asked, then the EC (Election Commission) suggested to him to give everybody, including Sangma, the details. He was also asked to put the proceedings on the website,” a poll panel official told IANS.

Earlier, in a two-hour meeting of Team Sangma at BJP leader Sushma Swaraj’s residence here, the option to approach court against Mukherjee’s nomination was discussed.

The 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 we will move court,” said Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy.