Date:19/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/19/stories/2007071960531000.htm

Tamil Nadu

Presidential poll: Congress MLAs meet

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Congress convened a meeting of its MLAs at Satyamurthi Bhavan here on Wednesday to explain the procedures to be adopted by legislators for the Presidential election, scheduled to be held on Thursday, and the latest instructions issued by the Election Commission.

All India Congress Committee observer to Tamil Nadu Hanumandappa who explained the procedures to the MLAs, told newsmen later that all party MLAs except D. Yasodha participated in the meeting. He was confident that all votes from Tamil Nadu would go for Pratibha Patil, which would be a good beginning not only for the Congress but also for its allies.

The Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) parties in Tamil Nadu were solidly behind Ms. Patil and the opposition candidate, contesting as an independent, would not get a single vote in the State, he said.

AICC general secretary M.Veerappa Moily, in-charge of party affairs in the State, who participated in the meeting, thanked DPA parties in Tamil Nadu for extending their support to Ms. Patil.

Ms. Yasodha who could not attend the meeting, telephonically expressed her support to the decisions taken at the meeting, said Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president M. Krishnasswamy.