AGP won't back Cong presidential candidate

The Asom Gana Parishad, a constituent of the newly launched front of eight regional parties, on Wednesday said it will not vote for the Congress presidential candidate.

The Asom Gana Parishad, a constituent of the newly launched front of eight regional parties, on Wednesday said it will not vote for the Congress presidential candidate.

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AGP president Brindaban Goswami told reporters in Guwahati that his party, which has 24 MLAs and three MPs, had decided not to vote for the Congress candidate as per a decision taken at the new front's meeting in Hyderabad on June six.

At the meeting, the AGP had informed the leaders of the regional parties that it would not vote for the Congress nominee and instead proposed that President A P J Abdul Kalam be re-elected as a consensus candidate, he said.

Or else, the AGP had suggested, a person acceptable to all and who could uphold the honour and dignity of the country could also be the presidential candidate.

The issue would be discussed further at the front's upcoming meeting in Chennai, he said.

The conclave of eight regional parties, hosted by TDP chief and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, was announced in Hyderabad on June six.

The new front comprises TDP, AIADMK, Samajawadi Party, Asom Gana Parishad, Indian National Lok Dal, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha, MDMK and Kerala Congress.