Sangma to resign from NCP, says Swamy

New Delhi, June 20 (IANS) Former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma has decided to quit the NCP, which doesn't want him to contest the presidential election, Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy said Wednesday.

"He told me that I have no option but to resign from NCP. He said he is resigning (because) his self-respect has to be protected," Swamy told the media after meeting Sangma at his residence here.

Swamy quoted Sangma as saying that he was unhappy with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and there was pressure on the Nationalist Congress Party because he wanted to contest the presidential polls.

Sangma told Swamy that he wanted to make things easier for the NCP by resigning.

Swamy alleged that Sangma was told he would be made India's envoy to Mauritius if he decided not to be a presidential candidate.