Sasikala to discuss 'Kovind' with AIADMK MLAs: Dinakaran

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 20 (ANI): All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary V. K. Sasikala will soon clear party's stand on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind. Party's deputy general secretary T.T.V Dinakaran on Tuesday said this after meeting his aunt Sasikala, who is jailed at Parappana Agrahara central prison in Benglauru. When asked whether he discussed about AIADMK giving its support to the Bharatiya Janata Party over Kovind, Dinakaran said "AIADMK Gen Secretary Sasikala will decide on it." Meanwhile, Ram Nath Kovind's resignation as the Bihar Governor was accepted by President Pranab Mukherjee. West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi was given additional charge of Bihar. So far, almost all of the NDA allies, except the Shiv Sena, have extended their support to Kovind's candidature. Among the opposition parties who have also reportedly extended their support include, Odisha's Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Samajwadi Party, and Andhra's YSR Congress Party. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has called a meeting of senior Janata Dal (United) leaders on Wednesday to discuss about the support to Kovind's candidature for president. The election for the next President of India is to be held on July 17. President Pranab Mukherjee will demit office on July 24. (ANI)