Farmer to run for presidential poll?

CHENNAI: All India Farmers Welfare Federation general secretary K S ‘Govanam’ Thangavelu on Wednesday said that he would contest for the presidential poll.Speaking to reporters, he pointed out that over 70 per cent of the total population of the country were farmers and yet they did not get due representation in politics.Thangavelu came to be known as ‘Govanam’ (loin-cloth) because he filed his nomination to contest from Modakurichi Assembly constituency in Erode district as an independent candidate in 2001, wearing nothing but the loin cloth. He contested from the same seat in the next two consecutive terms and contested to Parliament from Salem constituency in 2009.When asked about his chances, Thangavelu said no farmer had been allowed to become the President and added, “I request all the political parties to declare me as their presidential candidate unanimously.”