Puducherry: The combined opposition's presidential nominee, Meira Kumar, on Sunday, appealed to all MLAs and MPs from different states to listen to their inner voice and to act for the best of the country.

"I have written letters to electorate comprising of all party MLAs and MPs to support my candidature in the forthcoming presidential election," she said.

At a meeting of MLAs and MPs belonging to Congress and DMK, and later at a media briefing here, she said this is the moment when one should heed to the inner voice of conscience and set the course of the nation.

"For us it is an ideological struggle for secularism. We are asking the electorate to vote for the best interest of the country and stand for the poor and by the philosophy of secularism," she said.

"It is the fight for tolerance and even more. We are fighting for freedom of expression, freedom of press and to respect others beliefs", she said.
Ms Kumar said said she was honoured by the trust the 17 opposition parties have shown in her.

"This unity is based on ideological position that all the parties have taken," she added. Prasing Puducherry the former Lok Sabha speaker said the Union Territory has a history of peace and harmony and respect for every individual cutting across religious and castes.

"The message of Auroville, Aurobindo and The Mother of the Ashram here had been promotion of peace, dignity and this message had spread across the whole country," she added.

Earlier, Ms Kumar was received by Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, his ministerial colleagues and legislators of Congress and DMK.