Putting all speculation to rest, Indian National lok Dal (INlD), Haryana’s main opposition party on Thursday announced its support for NDA’s presidential nominee Ram Nath Kovind for the top post.
leader of opposition in Haryana Assembly and INlD’s senior leader Abhay Chautala made a formal announcement in this regard during a meeting with Ram Nath Kovind, who was in Panchkula to meet legislators and parliamentarians from Haryana to seek their support for July 17 presidential election.
“INlD’s chief OP Chautala alongwith all party leaders have decided to support NDA’s presidential candidate. Ram Nath Kovind has discharged his duties in an unbiased manner as the Bihar Governor and the party assures its support to him for the top post,” said Abhay Chautala at the meeting.
Accompanied with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and BJP’s Haryana incharge Anil Jain, Ram Nath Kovind met BJP MlAs and MPs at Red Bishop, Panchkula on Thursday to seek their support.
After this meeting, Kovind went to Bella Vista Hotel, Panchkula to meet INlD legislators and expressed his gratitude to the party leaders for their support. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal, BJP leader Anil Jain and Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala was accompanying Kovind during his meeting with INlD legislators.
In a brief address to the INlD leaders, Kovind paid tribute to late Chaudhary Devi lal and acknowledged his role in the development of Haryana.
Assuring the INlD that he would remain above party politics after being elected to the office of President, Kovind said that as the Governor of Bihar, I had always discharged my duties in an unbiased manner.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is associated with a different political party, has also extended his support and termed my contribution as unparalleled in Bihar's history, said Kovind.
He said that I have been apprised that around 28-29 political parties have extended their support to me and I am thankful for this… Whether it is Haryana or Punjab, Kashmir or Tamil Nadu, I will remain unbiased and work diligently to serve the country and for welfare of people, he added.
Speaking at the meeting, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal earlier said that we assure that 70 out of total 90 MlAs of Haryana would support Ram Nath Kovind for the top post. Apart from this, three out of five Rajya Sabha MPs will also support his candidature, he said.
The Chief Minister also extended an invitation to Ram Nath Kovind to visit Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana after being elected to the office of President.
Chautala while talking to the mediapersons later said that Congress did not approach the party for the support so far and it shows that they are not serious for the presidential polls.
The INlD has announced its support to Ram Nath Kovind as he has promised to remain above party politics after being elected as President, he added.
In the 90-member Haryana Assembly, the ruling BJP enjoys a majority with 47 MlAs and the support of five Independents.
The Congress has 17 MlAs while the INlD, which is the principal opposition party, has 19 MlAs.
The SAD and BSP each have a lone legislator in Haryana Assembly.
Among the lok Sabha MPs in Haryana, the ruling BJP has seven members, INlD has two and the Congress has one, while the BJP has only one member among the five Rajya Sabha MPs.
Media baron Subhash Chandra was elected to the upper house last year with the BJP's support.
The Congress has two Rajya Sabha members and the INlD has one in Haryana.
71-year old dalit leader, Kovind will face main opposition candidate former lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar in the July 17 polls.
Earlier, Kovind met Haryana BJP MlAs and MPs at Panchkula to seek their support.
Former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and other senior leaders of the Akali Dal were also present during the meeting.
After the meeting, Chief Minister Manohar lal said that Ram Nath Kovind met MlAs and MPs of Haryana and Punjab BJP and those of its ally SAD as part of his campaign for the July 17 election.
All legislators and parliamentarians have assured him of their support for the election, said the Chief Minister.
Notably, a controversy had erupted last year after votes of 12 MlAs of Haryana Congress were declared invalid for marking their preferences with a pen other than the one officially supplied during the Rajya Sabha polls held in June.
Following directions from EC, an FIR was also registered against unknown persons to probe into the alleged conspiracy of change of pen/ink leading to rejection of twelve ballot papers during the polls.
