Presidential nominees to seek votes in TN, PMK threatens boycott

The two presidential candidates -- Ram Nath Kovind of the BJP-led NDA and the Congress-led opposition candidate Meira Kumar -- are likely to visit Tamil Nadu on Saturday.

They will be seeking the support of the political parties in the state for their election.

The presidential election is slated for July 17.

According to BJP sources, Kovind will be meeting the legislators and members of Parliament of all factions (Chief Minister K. Palaniswami-led faction, party Deputy General Secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran-led faction and former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam faction) of the AIADMK and seek their support.

Incidentally, all the three factions of AIADMK had earlier announced their support to Kovind.

Kumar is expected to meet the legislators and MPs of the DMK, Congress and others. She is also expected to meet DMK President M. Karunanidhi at his residence.

Kumar will most likely visit Puducherry on Sunday to seek support of the legislators there.

Meanwhile, PMK founder S. Ramadoss said his party would extend support to Kovind if the BJP announced that it would set up the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) in a month's time.

If the BJP did not promise that, then the PMK would boycott the presidential polls, he said.

PMK's Anbumani Ramadoss, son of S. Ramadoss, is the sole member for the party in the Lok Sabha. - IANS