New Delhi, May 22 (IBNS): Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi turned down Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma's request to meet her, media reports said on Tuesday.
Sangma had asked for an appointment to meet Gandhi at her 10 Janpath residence.
But Gandhi turned down his request.
Sangma on Tuesday met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to thank him for supporting him as candidate for the Presidential election.
Patnaik has called Sangma the 'best person' for the crucial post.
Sangma on Tuesday urged political parties including the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to support a 'tribal person' for the position.
"We hope that other political groups including UPA and NDA will respond to the call of conscience of the nation by the tribal people and support us in the coming presidential election," Sangma told reporters.
Sangma is also likely to meet West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mamata Banerjee over the Presidential election, media reports said.
Banerjee told CNN IBN news channel that she would support the candidature of current Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar or former West Bengal governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi or even former President APJ Abdul Kalam.
She said she would like to see Meira Kumar or Gopal Krishna Gandhi or Kalam at the top post.
"I love Meira Kumar. She is very soft spoken. Gopal Gandhi has done good work. Kalam was a good president," Banerjee told the channel.
Meanwhile, Sangma has already received the support of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Jayalalithaa on Friday appealed to all political parties to 'rise above political considerations' and back Sangma as candidate for the Presidential election.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Thursday said they will back Sangma as candidate for the Presidential election.
Speaking on the issue, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati said: "We are keeping an eye on the movements of other parties. We are waiting to see the candidates fielded by NDA and UPA."
The Presidential election has dragged a lot of attention in recent times with names like Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Hamid Ansari making rounds for the top post.
The election is scheduled to take place in July.