New Delhi: NDA’s presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu has reached Assam and will be meeting MPs and legislators of the ruling BJP and its allies — the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the United Peoples’ Party Liberal (UPPL) today
Accompanied by Union shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Murmu, who arrived here late on Tuesday night, was received at the airport by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, some of his cabinet colleagues, state BJP chief Bhabesh Kalit among others.
According to a PTI report, she will meet the MPs and MLAs at a city hotel in Assam.
The saffron party has nine Lok Sabha MPs and four parliamentarians in Rajya Sabha while the AGP and the UPPL have one member each in the Upper House.
The 126-member Assam Assembly currently comprises 78 MLAs of the ruling NDA — 62 legislators of the BJP, nine of the AGP and seven of the UPPL.
AIUDF chief and Lok Sabha MP Badruddin Ajmal also said that his party, which has 15 MLAs in the House, will support Murmu.
Droupadi Murmu to visit Meghalaya
Droupadi Murmu is also scheduled to visit Meghalaya later in the day to seek the support of ruling MLAs, according to a PTI report. Murmu had been touring states to muster electoral support for the July 18 polls.
“She will be arriving in Meghalaya on the afternoon of July 6. During the visit, Murmu will hold interactions with the MPs and MLAs of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance at Orchid Lake resort here,” a senior official said, quoted the PTI report as saying.
The BJP, with two MLAs in the House of 60, is a constituent of the National People’s Party-led coalition in Meghalaya.
Five suspended Congress MLAs who have pledged their support to the MDA government are likely to vote in favour of Murmu, sources in the ruling alliance said.
The Opposition TMC has 12 legislators in the Assembly.
The NPP and the Congress have one MP each in the Lok Sabha while the NPP has one MP in the Upper House of Parliament.