Maintaining that the party`s line was to support UPA`s nominee Pranab Mukherjee for the top constitutional post "unconditionally", Patel said, "the NCP`s stated position is that we do not subscribe to his (Sangma`s) candidature. We will react only if he files his nomination".
"Let me make it very clear that Mr Sangma does not enjoy support of the NCP. We wish that he does not contest...I don`t think he should defy the party`s direction or the line of thinking", Patel said.
"In this case, the party`s direction and the line is to support Pranab Mukherjee unconditionally", he said. Sangma is insisting on contesting, saying that he has the support of AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik. "I am in the fray as a tribal candidate, not as an NCP candidate", he had said earlier.