The AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma), led by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Pannerselvam, on June 22, 2017 extended support to NDA’s presidential nominee Ram Nath Kovind.
Mr. Panneerselvam said BJP president Amit Shah had sought support from him for Mr. Kovind and the matter was discussed with senior functionaries of the faction on June 22, besides MPs and MLAs owing allegiance to him.
“Based on that and heeding to Mr. Shah’s request, it has been unanimously decided to back Mr. Kovind,” he told reporters in Chennai.
An “opportunity” has been provided for a member of the Dalit community to be elected to the President’s office, and “for providing that opportunity [to Mr. Kovind], we have decided to support him,” Mr. Panneerselvam said.
Asked if the faction, which has 12 MPs and an equal number of MLAs, was supporting Mr. Kovind since he hails from the Dalit community, Mr. Panneerselvam said the presidential nominee has been a former MP twice, besides having served as Governor of Bihar, and was, therefore, “experienced”.
“We are confident he will perform as a good administrator,” he said when asked about Mr. Kovind’s RSS background and reports that the Congress may also field a Dalit candidate.
The AIADMK (PTA) decision comes a day after the ruling AIADMK (Amma) faction announced its support to Mr. Kovind.
A brief statement issued by the AIADMK (Amma) after a “consultation” meeting held at the party headquarters, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called the party headquarters secretary and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami over the phone and sought the party's support to Mr. Kovind. The party considered this at a consultative meeting and decided to extend support to him, the release said.
Howvever, it’s still unclear whether AIADMK deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran, who is believed to command the support of around 35 MLAs, would back the decision.
The Jaya TV, which is being controlled by members close to the family of jailed general secretary V.K. Sasikala, did not telecast news about the AIADMK (Amma)’s decision.
Party propaganda secretary and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M. Thambi Durai met Sasikala in the Bengaluru prison and said the leadership would take a decision on whom to support in the presidential poll. Mr. Dhinakaran also met Sasikala.
Incidentally, on June 21, 2017, when Mr. Palaniswami hosted an Ifthar on behalf of the party in Chennai, many MLAs who had expressed loyalty to Mr. Dhinakaran boycotted it.
(With inputs from PTI )
