By Himanshu Guru: NCP leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma has has emerged as the strong contender for the post of President of India. Since India has witnessed dalit, Muslim and woman Presidents, it's now time for a person from the tribal origin.

 

There are three basic factors that make Sangma to qualify for the top post. First among them is his north-east background.

 

North East is moving through a chronic unrest. The main reason behind this unrest is that its people are discriminated as being different. Sometimes Christian missionaries are accused of being behind the unrest. But the main reason is the negative perception.

 

In their turn many in the northeast feel discriminated and so revolt against the refusal to respect their identity.

 

Even reacting to Mr. P.A. Sangma's criticism on the foreign origin of Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, a weekly newspaper had commented that Sangma would have problems proving his Indian origin because of his Chinese looks and because he is not conversant either in English or Hindi.

 

Hence there is a huge probability that this unrest would end up if a leader from this background will be offered the top post.

 

Secondly, we have already witnessed presidents from all other categories and classes only except the Tribes, whom the government has announced as a vulnerable class for which it provides a lot of special privileges to them. Hence now providing a chance to a member from the tribe may take the country to a different height.

 

Thirdly, the North East NCP strongman Sangma is a former Speaker of Lok Sabha and Chief Minister of Meghalaya. He was a co-founder of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and remained a member of the Lok Sabha for eight terms. These vast political achievements definitely make him a right and deserving candidate for the post.

 

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has said that the BJD and the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK will support Sangma for the top position. However, other parties have not opened their cards yet.