A day after backing former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma's candidature for the Presidency, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa asked all parties to "rise above political considerations," and support the tribal leader for the top job. "I now appeal to all political parties to rise above political considerations and support Sangma and ensure that he becomes the next President of India," she said in a statement here. Jayalalithaa said that Sangma "not only belongs to a tribal community but is also eminently qualified to be the President of our great nation."
"During the past 60 years of the Republic of India, while eminent personalities belonging to various communities and diverse walks of life have graced the office of the Rashtrapati, no one belonging to a tribal community has had the opportunity so far," she had said. Jayalalithaa had held consultations with her Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik besides within her party before announcing her support to Sangma, who himself had called on her on May 15.