The AIADMK Amma faction headed by E Palaniswami said will support NDA's choice for President.
After Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami pledged the support of his faction of the AIADMK to
Ram Nath Kovind, the BJP's nominee for President, O Panneerselvam of the rival faction has done the same this morning. The full AIADMK is on board with the BJP.
"BJP chief Amit Shah had a word with me and we have accepted his request and
decided to support Ram Nath Kovind, the NDA candidate for President. Kovind is best fit for the job and we have supported him based on his credentials," former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said.
Mr Palaniswami has not just backed Mr Kovind, but is also arriving in New Delhi to accompany him when he files nomination papers for the top post on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had phoned Mr Palaniswami to seek his support for Mr Kovind, the AIADMK said.
The BJP and its allies have about 48 per cent of the vote in the presidential elections and with the support of regional parties like the AIADMK and Biju Janata Dal or BJD will have more than 60 per cent, which will ensure a smooth election for Mr Kovind if the opposition forces a contest by fielding a candidate.
Mr Palaniswami is a member of the faction called the AIADMK (Amma) whose chief VK Sasikala is in prison in Bengaluru in a corruption case. On Tuesday, her nephew and party leader TTV Dinakaran had said Ms Saiskala would decide on whether to back the BJP's nominee for President.
Both Ms Sasikala and Mr Dhinakaran have been recently sidelined in the party as efforts were made, in vain, to re-unite the two factions. The AIADMK had split after a power struggle earlier this year, weeks after former Chief Minister and the party's powerful chief J Jayalalithaa died.
Ms Sasikala, who was Ms Jayalaliathaa's longtime companion, quickly ensured her selection as party chief. It was when she moved to take over as Chief Minister in place of O Panneerselvam that the latter rebelled.
The party split but most legislators backed Ms Sasikala, whose plan to become Chief minister fell through after the Supreme Court convicted her and sent her to jail. Before she left for Bengaluru, she ensured that her loyalist E Palaniswami was installed as chief minister.