59 Arunachal legislators vote in Presidential poll

Itanagar July 17 (IANS) As many as 59 legislators in BJP-ruled Arunachal Pradesh on Monday exercised their franchise to elect India s 14th President including Health and Family Welfare Minister Jomde Kena who voted in New Delhi.

One seat in the 60-member assembly is vacant after Kameng Dolo representing Pakke-Kessang constituency lost membership in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling in connection with the 2014 assembly election.

The Supreme Court in May declared the election in Pakke-Kessang assembly as void under the Representation of the People Act.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has 47 members. The Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA) a constituent of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) with nine members had pledged support to National Democratic Alliance nominee Ram Nath Kovind.

Two Independents too are supporting the NDA nominee.

Lone Congress member and former Chief Minister Nabam Tuki supported opposition-backed Congress nominee Meira Kumar.

--IANS
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