YSR Congress to support BJP's presidential nominee: Jagan Mohan Reddy

YSR Congress Party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy claimed on Wednesday that his party will provide support to any candidate that BJP fields for the upcoming presidential election. He had a meeting with PM Modi in New Delhi at the latter's official residence and discussed the issue with him.

"We will support any candidate the BJP fields as we havevery less difference in opinion. Except for differences on theland acquisition bill and special status for Andhra Pradesh,we share similar opinions on various issues which we think arepro-people," Jagan said.

"Also, the BJP has enough support for its candidate towin. Opposing their candidate and fielding another will notmake sense," he said. Jagan Mohan Reddy is the leader of opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly where the ruling TDP is a partner ofthe BJP-led NDA alliance.

The presidential election is set to occur in July and opposition unity for contesting it may well be a precursor to an anti-NDA front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury recently met Congress president Sonia Gandhi to explore the possibility of fielding a joint candidate for the presidential poll and RJD boss Lalu Prasad discussed cobbling together a Bihar- style 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance).

In Wednesday’s meeting, Jagan discussed various issues with the prime minister while demanding disqualification of four MLAs from his party who switched over to the Telugu Desam Party and were made ministers in the recent Cabinet reshuffle.

Moreover, he also sought justice for those affected in the AgriGold Estates and Farms scam, better support price for chillifarmers in Andhra Pradesh and granting special status for thestate.

"We also gave a booklet, 'Emperor of Corruption', broughtout by the YSRCP, to the prime minister. The booklet talksabout the corruption by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu,"he said. 

With PTI inputs