Presidential election: TDP extends full support to Ram Nath Kovind's candidature

The Telugu Desam Party on Monday welcomed Bhartiya Janta Party's decision to put up Bihar Governor and Dalit leader Ram Nath Kovind as the NDA's candidate for the presidential election.

Telugu Desam Party, which is also an NDA ally has announced its full support to BJP's choice for Kovind as the Presidential candidate. The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu termed Kovind's candidature as "the right choice" for the top Constitutional post.

"You have chosen a right candidate for the top post. An intellectual with high values belonging to the Dalit community is very apt in all respects for the president's post," Naidu told Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called him this afternoon to inform about Kovind's choice.

A communication from the chief minister's office said Naidu announced that the TDP would extend complete support forKovind's candidature.
The communication also said that the Prime Minister has requested Naidu to garner Trinamool Congress' support for the Ram Nath Kovind.

Naidu assured the Prime Minister that he would contact TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee upon her return from her foreign visit, the communication said.

However, Mamata Banerjee said that there were many other Dalitalit leaders, Kovind was BJP's Dalit Morcha leader and that is why he was chosen as NDA's candidate. 

She also said that her party will announce their decision after the opposition meets on June 22.

(With PTI Inputs)