PM, BJP garner support to Kovind from Telugu states

Major political parties in both the Telugu states have assured the Prime Minister and the BJP that they would support the candidature of Ramnath Kovind, presidential candidate of the NDA.

According to reports from the Chief Minister’s office in Amaravati, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Monday to formally seek support for Ramnath Kovind.  “CM has praised PM Modi's choice and described Kovind as an intellectual from the Dalit community and deserves the position of president,” CMO said.

Nadu as per the advice of the Prime Minister which has dialled  West Bengal Chief Minister  Mamata Banerjee who is on a three-day visit to Netherlands seeking support for Kovind.  TDP sources say that the West Bengal CM has told Naidu that she would take a look at the issue after returning home.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister also personally telephoned Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao and requested his support for the candidature.  The PM told the CM “As per your suggestion we have decided upon a Dalit Candidate for the Presidential Post” and requested CM support for the Candidate. According to a statement, Rao immediately consulted the party colleagues and conveyed his party support for the Presidential Candidate to the PM.

In another statement the YSR Congress party, the main opposition party in AP also declared its support to Kovind immediately after BJP Chief Amit Shah called YS Jaganmohan Reddy and sought his support. “We will be supporting the candidature of Dalit intellectual Kovind,” a party press release said.