Ram Nath Kovind Meets TN, Pondy Legislators; Assured Support

Chennai: NDA presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday met Tamil Nadu Chief Minsiter K Palaniswami, rebel AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam and Puducherry legislators, who assured support for his candidacy.

Kovind had separate meetings with Palaniswami and Panneerselvam in which leaders of the two factions of the ruling AIADMK, including School Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan (AIADMK-Amma) and senior AIADMK-Puratchi Thalaivi Amma leader E Madhusudanan participated.

Followers of party Deputy General Secretary TTV Dinakaran were also there.

Both Palaniswami and Panneerselvam in their respective speeches recalled the good ties and friendship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. Praising Kovind, the chief minister said he overcame socio-economic barriers and made his way up through hard work, honesty and dedication.

Panneerselvam said, "Though his victory is assured, we express our appreciation for his (Kovind's) political decency in visiting us to seek our support."

Recalling the friendship between Modi and Jayalalithaa, he said his party's support to Kovind was its reflection.

Union ministers JP Nadda, Pon Radhakrishnan, Lok Sabha M Thambidurai, BJP state president Tamilisai Soundararajan, Saffron party leader Muralidhar Rao took part in the meeting. Kovind thanked the leaders for their support to his candidature.

Earlier in the day, Kovind met Puducherry legislators and the lone Lok Sabha member from the Union Territory. Puducherry-based All India NR Congress chief N Rangasamy and his party legislators met Kovind at a hotel.

Puducherry's lone Lok Sabha MP R Radhakrishnan, who belongs to the main opposition party in the Assembly (AINRC), was also present there, according to Tamil Nadu BJP.

Also, BJP's lone legislator from Kerala and veteran party leader O Rajagopal took part in the meeting to drum up support for Kovind.

U Thaniyarasu (of Tamil Nadu Kongu Ilaignar Peravai) and M Thamimun Ansari (Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi), who had won on AIADMK tickets in the 2016 Assembly polls, were not present in the meeting held at Kalaivanar Arangam to support Kovind.

Thaniyarasu told PTI that he was away in his constituency in Kangeyam and hence could not attend the meeting.

Ansari said he opposed Kovind's candidature and will vote in favour of the opposition's nominee Meira Kumar.