In fact Sangma has evoked more ridicule than sympathy by raising the politically sensitive question of the first tribal President as his campaign is seen as an audacious self-promotion exercise.

Even his own party, the NCP, had washed its hands of his personal ambitions last month when Sangma was in the thick of vote-mongering. NCP chief Sharad Pawar had told Sangma that his campaign was uncalled for. Pawar had also explained the ground reality to him to prove his point that the NCP was not in a position to back his candidature.

Though Sangma has been working on the idea for quite some time, it compelled the NCP to intervene after two major regional parties, the AIADMK and the BJD, declared support for his candidature. The BJP continues to support his candidature. More