Kovind arrives in Chandigarh

Chandigarh, June 29 (IANS) National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) Presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind arrived in Chandigarh on Thursday to seek support from Haryana and Punjab legislators.

From the Chandigarh International Airport, Kovind drove to Panchkula town in Haryana where he will meet legislators from the state.

Kovind will later hold discussions with legislators from Punjab in Chandigarh.

The opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) will decide on its position on the Presidential poll on Thursday.

Haryana's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has 47 legislators, INLD has 19, Congress has 17, five are Independents and one seat each is held by the Akali Dal and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

Kovind will face main opposition candidate former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar in the July 17 polls. Kumar has been supported by 17 parties, led by the Congress.

The Congress, which won the assembly elections in Punjab in March, has 77 legislators in the 117-member assembly.

The Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP have 18 legislators in the Punjab assembly.

The Aam Aadmi Party has 20 legislators in the assembly while its alliance partner Lok Insaf Party has two legislators.