"After so many decades of India's independence, a tribal should go to the Raisina Hill. All parties should support Sangma," Patnaik told reporters in the temple town of Puri, where he had gone to witness the chariot festival of Lord Jagannath.
Patnaik, who is also the chief of the state's ruling Biju Janata Dal, in May proposed the name of Sangma after holding discussion with Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa.