BJD to support Ram Nath Kovind for President after PM speaks to CM Naveen

Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said that BJD will support NDA's candidate Ram Nath Kovind as Presidential candidate.

"The Hon'ble PM spoke to me to inform about the candidature of Ram Nath Kovind as Presidential nominee. He sought the support of BJD in this regard. Last time BJD had proposed the name of eminent leader of tribal community PA Sangma. Based on BJD's request many political parties including BJP had supported him. In this backdrop and considering the fact that Shri Kovind is an eminent lawyer belonging to the Scheduled Caste community, BJD, after discussing with senior leaders of the party has decided to support his candidature," said CM Naveen.

Earlier, the NDA today announced Ram Nath Kovind, the Bihar Governor, as its Presidential candidate. Prime Minister Narendra Modi even spoke to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over phone today to seek consensus over the candidate.

Naveen had earlier today said “We will discuss it with senior party leaders of BJD and then inform the media later,” said Naveen today.

While Bihar CM and JDU chief Nitish Kumar as well as TMC Supremo and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee had called upon Naveen to discuss the candidate for Presidential elections, Naveen had not taken any sides and had maintained BJD would decide after seeing the candidates.