Describing himself as “a non-political candidate”, NDA’s presidential nominee Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday sought support from TDP after paying glowing tributes to former Chief Minister NT Rama Rao.
On a campaign visit to Andhra Pradesh, the presidential nominee said Rama Rao was a Telugu pride. He said that two sons of soil of the State — Zakir Husain, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy-had already served as country’s Presidents in the past.
While describing Constitution as Gita, Quran and Bible, the NDA nominee said that he is a non political candidate and promised to upkeep the democratic traditions of the country.
Earlier, introducing Kovind, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said that though the NDA Government wanted a consensus on presidential election but the contest became inevitable as the Opposition parties fielded another candidate.
Speaking on the occasion Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned, he extended support to the NDA decision as he had confidence on the selection of candidate.
Describing Ramnath Kovind as a great academician and intellectual, the Chief Minister said that there is no need for present contest as Ramnath is having 70 per cent support. He said it is an inspiring time for India to have an intellectual as presidential candidate.
BJP national general secretary Muralidhara Rao, MPs la Ganesan and Amar Sankar Sable, Union Ministers Ashok Gajapati Raju, YS Chowdary, AP Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, Ministers, MPs and MlAs were present on the occasion.