Chennai: O. Panneerselvam faction of the AIADMK, which commands the support of 12 MLAs and as many MPs, on Thursday decided to extend support to NDA’s Presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind, a day after the rival Edappadi K. Palaniswami camp decided to do so.
The decision to support Mr Kovind was announced by former chief minister O. Panneerselvam after a meeting of the leaders of his faction on Thursday morning. He also said the decision was taken after BJP president Amit Shah sought the support of his faction for the NDA candidate.
“Amit Shah had sought our support and our leaders have unanimously decided to support the candidature of Ram Nath Kovind. Our MLAs and MPs will cast their vote in favour of the NDA candidate. (BJP has provided) an opportunity for a Dalit to be elected as President and we have decided to support his candidature,” the former chief minister said.
Immediately after the announcement, Mr Shah spoke to Mr Panneerselvam and thanked him for his support to the NDA candidate.
To a question whether his faction support Mr Kovind only because he belongs to Dalit community, Mr Panneerselvam said the candidate had served as Rajya Sabha MP for two terms and functioned as Governor of Bihar. “We are confident he will perform as a good administrator,” he said, to a specific question.
