Bhubaneswar, Jun 26 (IANS): Conrad Sangma, the son of former Lok Sabha speaker P.A. Sangma Tuesday met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here to campaign for his father who is a candidate for the presidency.

He met Patnaik at Naveen Nivas, the official residence of the chief minister, and held discussions with him.

Although Conrad said he has come on a personal visit, the presence of a large number of legislators and parliament members of the state's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) at Naveen Nivas has given rise to speculation that he has come to ensure support for his father.

Odisha Chief Minister Patnaik, who is also the chief of the state's Biju Janata Dal (BJD), in May proposed the name of Sangma after holding discussion with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.

Patnaik was the first to announce the name of P.A. Sangma. The BJD has 108 members in the state's 147-member assembly, 14 members in the Lok Sabha and seven in Rajya Sabha.