Chandrababu Naidu to seek Mamata's support for Kovind

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will contact his West bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee to seek her Trinamool Congress's support for NDA's presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind, TDP sources said.

After BJP finalised the candidature of Bihar Governor Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Naidu over phone and sought his Teluugu Desam Party's support, TDP sources said.

Naidu, whose party is a constituent of ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), welcomed the choice of a Dalit as the candidate and assured party's full support.

Modi also requested Naidu to approach Banerjee to get her party' support for NDA candidate. Naidu conveyed to the PM that he will contact her after her return from foreign tour.

Reacting to NDA's choice, Banerjee said he never heard of Kovind. She said she was surprised by the decision.

"I have not heard his name ever before. I do not know him. I could recognise him only after he was mentioned as the Bihar Governor. I can say that I am surprised by the decision," Banerjee said at Dubai en route the Netherlands to address a United Nations' event.

--IANS

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