Journalism of Courage
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa stepped up lobbying for P A Sangma as a presidential candidate on Sunday,contacting the leaders of several parties four days after she had made a general appeal to all parties to support the former Lok Sabha Speaker.
She called up L K Advani of the BJP,CPM general secretary Prakash Karat,the CPIs A B Bardhan,and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav,besides Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal of the SAD and Telegu Desam leader N Chandrababu Naidu.
The BJP has decided to finalise its stand in consultation with NDA allies only after its national executive in Mumbai. A meeting of the NDA is slated in Delhi after the BJP meet in Mumbai.
The Left parties,which meet on May 23,did not appear enthusiastic Jayalalithaas proposal. We have not assured her anything, Bardhan told the Indian Express. We will formulate our stand after discussions within our party and with Left allies. And Karat said the Left would rather wait for the Congresss move before deciding its strategy.
An AIADMK statement issued in Chennai said that Jayalalithaa,in her intensified efforts to promote Sangmas candidacy,requested these leaders to back Sangma who has all the qualifications for the post.
