Puducherry:  Presidential Draupadi Murmu met with the legislators of the ruling AINRC-led coalition here on Saturday in her first tour after being selected the NDA's presidential candidate, and she sought their support.

Murmu addressed a joint meeting of MLAs of the ruling NDA  comprising the N Rangasamy-led AINRC, the BJP, and some independent members in a closed-door meeting of the NDA constituents, which included the AIADMK, which has no presence in the Assembly.

In the presidential election on July 18, Murmu will compete against Yashwant Sinha, a joint candidate of the opposition.

The meeting, which lasted for almost 30 minutes, was attended by the chief minister of Puducherry, N Rangasamy, his cabinet members, including home minister A Namassivayam, legislators from the ruling coalition, BJP Rajya Sabha MP from the union territory, S Selvaganapthy, and others.

The CM, Ministers, and a few MLAs welcomed Murmu earlier when she arrived at this airport. 

There was a flurry of activity inside the hotel as the presidential contender spoke to the MLAs. A team of BJP workers gave her a "poorna kumbam" honour.  Despite the fact that the AIADMK is not represented in the territorial Assembly, Murmu received a call and well wishes from the party's East and West wing secretaries, A Anbalagan and Om Sakthi Sekar, when she arrived at the hotel.

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