The Hindu : National : Sangma back in NCP

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Wednesday, Dec 21, 2005

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National

Sangma back in NCP

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The former Lok Sabha Speaker, Purno A. Sangma, on Tuesday returned to the Nationalist Congress Party, which he floated along with Sharad Pawar six years ago. Mr. Sangma, who resigned his Tura Lok Sabha seat earlier this year, contested the 2004 general elections on the Trinamool Congress ticket.

Welcoming his "homecoming," Mr. Pawar said re-admission was a formality as Mr. Sangma had been working with the party for the past one year in the northeast. Mr. Sangma would be the party candidate whenever a byelection was held for the seat.

Mr. Sangma said his quitting the NCP was a "closed chapter." He said Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee was informed of his moves.

Differences over Congress president Sonia Gandhi were over the day she turned down the offer to become Prime Minister, Mr. Sangma said.

Asked about the NCP's approach to the Assam Assembly elections next year, Mr. Sangma predicted a hung House. The ruling Congress was losing ground, while the Asom Gana Parishad suffered a vertical split. "The people are looking for a new alternative and the NCP would offer that."

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