JD(S) to support Meira Kumar in Presidential election

Gowda, Kumaraswamy sign papers to back her candidature

The JD(S) on Sunday decided to support former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, the Opposition candidate for the Presidential polls.

Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and his son H D Kumaraswamy endorsed the candidature of Meira by signing on her nomination papers in the presence of the Congress leaders in Bengaluru.

Interestingly, the JD(S)’ decision to support the Congress-backed candidate for the Presidential polls comes days after the party supported the BJP to defeat a resolution moved by the Congress to remove D H Shankaramurthy as Legislative Council Chairman. The JD(S) has said that it will never associate with the BJP at the national level.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G Parameshwara, AICC Secretary Suraj Hegde and other Congress leaders met Gowda at his residence in Bengaluru and sought JD(S)’ support for Meira.

The JD(S) has 40 MLAs and three MPs. However, the JD(S) has disqualified eight of its MLAs on the grounds of indulging in anti-party activities during elections to the Rajya Sabha last year.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also endorsed the candidature of Meira by signing on her nomination papers. Former Union minister M Veerappa Moily, Energy Minister D K Shivakumar, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait are among the other signatories.

Moily said that neither the ruling party candidate Ram Nath Kovind nor the Opposition candidate Meira had absolute majority to win the Presidential polls, scheduled to be held on July 17. 

He said all members of the electoral college should cast their vote as per their conscience.
Shivakumar said anything can happen in politics. “Changes can happen at the last minute,” he said apparently referring to the electoral tilt in favour of Kovind.