BHUBANESWAR: Even as former Speaker PA Sangma’s presidential race has not been able to garner support other than AIADMK and BJD, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will leave for New Delhi on Monday on his way to a eight-day trip of the United Kingdom.Sources said that the Chief Minister was in touch with some of the non-Congress and non-BJP chief ministers and leaders canvassing support for Sangma. Partymen are waiting for his return from Britain for his next step in this direction.Naveen had announced support for Sangma for the presidential race on Thursday. The announcement was supported by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. Sources said that though Naveen hoped for NCP’s support for Sangma’s candidature, Sharad Pawar has decided to sail with the UPA.The non-Congress chief ministers who had joined hands with Naveen while opposing the National Counter Training Centre (NCTC) are yet to take a stand on the presidential elections. Telugu Desam chief Chandrababu Naidu and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati are also yet to take a stand on the issue.Trinamool Congress president and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who strongly baked Naveen on the NCTC issue this time has also maintained silence. But one thing is clear that Naveen has played the tribal card in a perfect way by favouring Sangma for the top most post of the country.Leaders of the State unit of the NCP will, however, leave for New Delhi on Monday to meet the national president Sharad Pawar to discuss the presidential election. Despite the NCP deciding to toe the UPA line, the State unit has decided to support Sangma’s candidature.A decision to this effect was taken at the State NCP Legislature Party meeting, its leader Amar Prasad Satpathy said.
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