.jpg) AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa on Monday explained the reason why her party was supporting BJP candidate Jaswant Singh in the Vice-Presidential polls, despite chances were bright for UPA candidate Hameed Ansari to win the elections.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai, she said that there has to be an opposition in a democracy. She also cited her personal regard for the 74-year-old leader, who is pitted against Vice-President Hamid Ansari in Tuesday's poll.
"Simply because the ruling dispensation has put up a candidate who appears to have a winning chance, it doesn't mean that no one else can contest," she told reporters at a press conference at her residence soon after her return from a stay in Kodanad in the Nilgiris. "To reinforce my firm belief and conviction in true democracy, I want to make our opposition known and felt," she said.
“The first reason is the personal regard I have for him. And secondly, it is my firm belief that if we have to have a true democracy, there should be a strong Opposition.”
“Just because the ruling party’s candidate had a winning chance, we cannot support him. To reinforce my strong belief and conviction that there has be an Opposition...we are
supporting Jaswant Singh’s candidature,” she said.
Singh was in Chennai Monday to seek the support of the Tamil Nadu CM; she promised him that support, out of personal regard, she said. "I have known Jaswant for 28 years. It's a mark of my personal regard," she said.
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