Kovind meets Haryana, Punjab legislators

Chandigarh, June 29 (IANS) National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind met the legislators of Haryana and Punjab on Thursday to seek support in next month's presidential election.

Kovind drove to Panchkula town in Haryana from the Chandigarh International Airport, where he met the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators from the state.

Haryana's main opposition party, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), on Thursday extended support to Kovind. He met the INLD leaders and legislators in Panchkula.

The BJP in Haryana has 47 legislators, INLD has 19 and the Congress has 17. Five legislators are Independent and one seat each is held by the Akali Dal and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

Kovind also met senior Shiromani Akali Dal leaders, including former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, to seek support for the election.

The Akali Dal is an ally of the BJP and part of the NDA. The Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP have 18 legislators in the Punjab assembly.

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

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

Kovind will face the main opposition candidate, former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar in the July 17 presidential poll.

Meira Kumar has been supported by 17 parties, led by the Congress.