Sangma camp dares Pranab to face probe

May file an election petition

Daring UPAs presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee to face a probe into the legality and validity of his resignation from the ISI,Kolkata,supporters of rival candidate P A Sangma on Monday asserted to consider an election petition against Mukherjee if the Election Commission did not rule in its favour.

We will not go to the Supreme Court if the EC gives verdict in our favour, Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy,who is assisting Sangmas presidential bid,said in response to reporters query whether they will file an election petition against Mukherjee. Swamy was addressing a press conference after making written submission to the EC on Monday to register their protest against Returning Officers ruling rejecting Sangmas objections to Mukherjees candidature.

Sangmas camp indicated that their petition to the EC was a part of their strategy to exhaust all possible options for relief before they approached the court. Suppose,the EC says we are right,then why should we move the SC? We are moving one by one as per the settled procedure of law, Sangmas authorised representative Satya Pal Jain said,asserting that all options are open. As soon as the EC decision comes,we will take a decision. We will take this issue to its logical conclusion, Jain asserted.

Swamy and Jain claimed that they had sound legal objections and dared Mukherjee to face a probe for the sake of countrys image at international fora.

Mr Mukherjee,if you are honest,you should come forward and withdraw nomination and contest presidential election five years later. Least,he should be ready to face an inquiry, Swamy said. He charged that Mukherjees resignation from the office of profit was backdated and raised doubts about the legality and validity of Mukherjees signature pointing out that Sangmas camp had consulted forensic experts and found it not matching to his real signatures. I know who has done it signed on behalf of Mukherjee. in fact,it has been a habit. I will disclose it at an appropriate time, Swamy said.

He,however,rejected suggestion that Sangmas original proposer,Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa,had lost interest in his presidential bid.