MIM chief seeks Jagan's support for Pranab in Prez poll

Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president and city member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday met jailed YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and sought his party's support for United Progressive Alliance Presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee in the next month's election for the top Constitutional post.

"During my meet with Jagan, I sought support for the candidature of Pranab Mukherjee and told him not to ally with the NDA because they have a communal ideology. He (Jagan) has told me that he will definitely keep this in mind before taking a decision (on Presidential poll)", Owaisi said.

The MIM leader, whose party is an ally of the ruling Congress, met the Kadapa MP at the Chanchalguda jail where he is lodged in connection with a disproportionate assets case.

Jagan, who rebelled against the Congress and quit the party in 2010, later formed his own outfit. YSR Congress won 15 of the 18 Assembly seats and Nellore Lok Sabha seat in the June 12 by-elections in Andhra Pradesh. Jagan's fledgling party now has 17 MLAs and two Members of Parliament.

To a question, Owaisi said, "The mandate of the people for this present Assembly (in Andhra Pradesh) is till 2014 and so we hope that this Assembly will continue till 2014. But if any extraneous things happen I cannot be blamed for that."