Chennai: After Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edapaddi K. Palaniswami and the rebel camp led by his predecessor O. Panneerselvam pledged their support to NDA's Presidential candidate Ramnath Kovind, "sidelined" leader and AIADMK Amma camp Deputy General Secretary TTV Dinakaran also extended his support to the BJP's nominee.
Kumar was picked by 17 non-NDA political parties as their candidate against NDA nominee Ram Nath Kovind.
With its decision on support, the Sena thus joins the National Democratic Alliance ranks for the first time in 15 years in a presidential election, after acting tough for a couple of months in the run-up to the election to the top elected post in the country.
Mr Kejriwal's party was not included at yesterday's meeting in Delhi that was chaired by Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Meira Kumar's candidature was announced on Thursday. "We will take a decision on the issue at the 17-party meeting on July 22", Azad said.
"It is not proper to make the Presidential poll an issue of political confrontation".
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JD (U) has been a part of the opposition's joint initiative on the presidential elections. Earlier, when the all-party meeting took place, Sharad Yadav had suggested that we should not decide on the candidate so soon and should wait for the Government to come up with its candidate. "Hum logo ne thok-baja ke faisla liya hain (we have taken a decision after meticulously taking everything into account)", Rajak, who is deputy leader in the state Assembly and member of the JD (U) core committee, which decided on Tuesday to support Kovind, said.
Stating that the country needs a secular person to become the President in the backdrop of attacks on dalits and minorities since the NDA government assumed office at the Centre, Reddy said opposition parties have fielded Meira Kumar keeping her background in consideration.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad said his was an "ideological battle" against Kovind.
Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar more than satisfied the bill, as she is from Bihar, she is the daughter of late Congress leader and Minister Jagjivan Ram, has had a good innings as the Lok Sabha Speaker and is a woman thereby with the added gender dimension.
The BJP's oldest ally had last voted with the NDA in 2002 when it extended support to the candidature of A.P.J.
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