The ruling AIADMK (Amma) on Wednesday evening announced its support to the NDA's presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind. It was not immediately clear if party deputy general secretary T.T.V Dhinakaran, who is believed to command the support of around 35 of the 123 MLAs, would back the decision.
A brief statement issued by the party 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 phone and sought the AIADMK (Amma)’s support for Mr. Kovind’s candidature. The party considered this at a consultative meeting and decided to extend support to him, the release said.
The Jaya TV, considered the party’s mouthpiece, which is being controlled by members close to the Sasikala family, did not telecast news about the party’s decision.
The decision to back the BJP significantly was taken a day after party propaganda secretary and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M. Thambi Durai had met jailed general secretary V.K. Sasikala in the Bengaluru prison and said the leadership would take a decision on whom to the stand on presidential polls. Mr. Dhinakaran had also met Sasikala.
Incidentally, on Wednesday when Mr. Palaniswami hosted an Ifthar on behalf of the party in Chennai, many MLAs who had expressed loyalties with Mr. Dhinakaran had boycotted it.