Fernandes to seek suppport from Cong partners in Meghalaya

Shillong, June 30 (UNI) Union Minister Oscar Fernandes will arrive here today to meet alliance partners of the Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government to garner support for UPA nominee Pratibha Patil for the presidential elections.

Mr Fernandes will meet the Congress Legislators and its allies at the residence of Chief Minister D D Lapang late tonight.

Meghalaya has a total vote value of 3,144 of the 60 Legislators and three Members of Parliament for the Presidential election.

The Congress, which has 29 Legislators, is leading the Congress-led MDA government with the support of the four regional parties United Democratic Party (8) Meghalaya Democratic Party (4) Hill State People's Democratic Party (2), Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement besides three Independent MLAs.

Chief Minister and North East Congress Coordination Committee president D D Lapang said the Congress would also approach the Opposition Nationalist Congress Party (8) besides other two Independent MLAs to ensure victory for Ms Patil.

Mr Fernandes had already toured other North Eastern states, seeking support of Legislators and MPs for the UPA-Left nominee.

Meanwhile, the state BJP today sought support of ''like-minded'' parties, except the Congress, to elect NDA-backed Independent candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat as the successor of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam.

UNI