V-P polls: An emotional Naidu says it is painful to leave BJP

New Delhi, July 18 : Bharatiya Janata Party leader Venkiah Naidu on Tuesday filed his nomination for vice-presidential election on Tuesday.
Naidu, the BJP’s pick for vice-president, was accompanied by party veterans Murli Manohar Joshi and LK Advani, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah and Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj. Allies such as Shiromani Alkali Dal, Shiv Sena and the LJP were also present, as was an All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham leader. The AIADMK’s factio lead by former chief minister Panneerselvam has already announced its support to Naidu. “I have treated my party as a mother, it is very painful to leave the party and I am emotional . I do not belong to the BJP now, I will be continuing as MP because of voting. I have resigned from all party posts and will meet my party members outside the party office, ” Naidu said in what is perhaps his last meeting with media as BJP leader.