Congratulating Pranab Mukherjee for winning the presidential poll, opposition candidate Purno Sangma said the nation had lost an opportunity to elevate a tribal candidate to the post of the President.
I may have lost the election, but the nation on the whole has also lost a chance to elevate a tribal to the post of president, Sangma said at a press conference after the result was announced.
He also said that there should be a code of conduct for the presidential poll.
There is a compelling need for establishing a code of conduct for the presidential election, he said, adding that the process of election this year was "exceptionally politica?.
Sangma was backed by opposition parties BJP, SAD, AIADMK and BJD and some other parties.