Launching a fresh salvo against Mr Pranab Mukherjee, BJP’s Presidential nominee, Mr P. A. Sangma, on Tuesday alleged that the Rashtrapati Bhavan was being used as a dumping ground for the former finance minister.

Mr Sangma, who is the ex-Lok Sabha speaker, is contesting against Mr Mukherjee in the presidential race.

He said Mr Mukherjee whose policies are responsible for the present economic mess, is now being rewarded by the Congress party.

“Whatever problem the country is facing today, be it the price rise, the faltering GDP growth rate problem, the FDI problem, petrol price problem, the former Finance Minister is to be held responsible,” he said while addressing the media.

He asked the Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena MLAs to vote according to their conscience, as there is no enforceable party’s whip in the presidential elections.

It takes through a secret ballot.

Referring to the Union Law Minister Mr Salman Khurshid’s statement that the Government has lost direction, Mr Sangma said, “How could Khurshid continue to be in Government despite making statements against his own Government,” he said.

>rahulw@thehindu.co.in

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