The National Democratic Alliance (NDA)’s presidential nominee Ram Nath Kovind will file his nomination papers on Friday morning at the Parliament library building in the presence of top NDA leaders and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The entire council of Union Ministers, NDA Chief Ministers, BJP MPs and MlAs from across the country will be among proposers and “seconders” of Kovind’s candidature. The presidential election is scheduled for July 17.
The Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana too are expected to be present when the NDA presidential candidate files his nomination papers.
Soon after the BJP announced Kovind’s name as its candidate for the July 17 presidential election, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi offered their support to him.
Naidu had said Kovind was the “best selection” for the highest post which also highlighted the NDA’s commitment to downtrodden sections. The TDP is part of the ruling NDA.
Both the factions of the AIADMK, mired in controversies, too have offered their support to Kovind.
According to sources, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu spoke to NDA Chief Ministers and urged them to be present at the time of the filing of nomination by Kovind.
A day ahead of filing his nomination, Kovind will use Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma’s residence in Akbar Road as his new temporary address in the national Capital.
Kovind will be staying at the 10 Akbar Road bungalow in the heart of lutyens’ Delhi for about a month till the Presidential election on July 17, according to sources.
Meanwhile, the Presidential nominee of the NDA on Thursday met former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to seek his blessings. Kovind was accompanied by his wife during the meeting at Vajpayee’s residence. He had paid courtesy visits to BJP veterans lK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi on Wednesday.