Former Lok Sabha Speaker and Nationalist Congress Party General Secretary Purno A Sangma is perhaps fighting the toughest battle of his political career in these elections.

Not only has he to prove that he retains his popularity in his home constituency of Tura which he has been representing for over two decades but he has also to measure up to his reputation of being the tallest leader from the north-east in recent times.

It is not going to be an easy task for him as the biggest handicap is the "clock" symbol allotted to his party. So far, Sangma and "hand" symbol of the Congress were inseparable but this time the voter, particularly in the interior, has to be familiarised with the new symbol.

However, Sangma is confident of surviving the crisis. His track record so far also inspires the confidence that he would weather the storm. After all, his performance has been impressive in whatever job has been entrusted to him.

When Congress government, headed by PVNarasimha Rao, introduced liberalisation policies triggering structural adjustments and large-scale job losses, Sangma was the labour minister. His affable nature and persuasive qualities averted many a crisis in the most crucial initial phase of reforms.

When he became the Speaker, doubts were raised as to his capacity to be equal to the task. However, he carried himself well, his term being known for the special session of the Lok Sabha convened to celebrate the golden jubilee of Indian Independence which deliberated on the major concerns facing the Indian polity.

Dinesh Chandra