Chennai:
In a development that will boost the Congress' bid to garner support for its presidential candidate, the DMK has agreed to back Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee for the post.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai today, the DMK chief M Karunanidhi said, "If he is the candidate of the UPA coalition, the DMK will not hesitate to back his candidature. If the majority opinion is that, then DMK will also subscribe to it."
Asked about his earlier observation that his party favoured a "good President" and whether Pranab Mukherjee could be the one, the DMK chief said, "I have no objection. But there has been no decision on the presidential candidate."
The DMK leader, whose party is a key partner in the UPA-led government at the Centre, recalled that he had invited the Finance Minister as early as in 1969 for a conference on state autonomy.
With a a strength of 18 Lok Sabha MPs, 7 Rajya Sabha MPs and 23 MLAs, the DMK's support will be crucial for Congress to win the presidential polls.