Election for new President today

[1]

The election for India’s new President is set to take place on Thursday. UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee seemed to be sailing far ahead of his rival P.A. Sangma.

Not merely Mr Mukherjee is being supported by the UPA allies, he has also divided the NDA with both the Shiv Sena and the Janata Dal (United) deciding to vote in his favour.

The last bastion opposing Mr Mukherjee among the UPA allies, the Trinamul Congress, fell on Wednesday. The TMC supremo, who had earlier opposed Mr Mukherjee’s candidature, will now be voting in his favour.

His rival, Mr Sangma, who has been banking on “crossvotes”, is being supported by the BJP, BJD and the AIADMK. The CPI, RSP, TDP and TRS, which together have about 36,000 votes, are likely to abstain.

As per calculations, Mr Mukherjee is expected to get nearly 7.5 lakh votes, while Mr Sangma could poll 3.15 lakh. With the support of the SP (66,688 vote value), BSP (45,473), JD-U (40,737), Shiv Sena (18,495), JD-S (6,138) and CPI(M) and Forward Bloc (around 41,000), the UPA poll managers are expecting a comfortable win for Mr Mukherjee with a vote share of around 7.5 lakh.

Besides the UPA, its four supporting parties — SP, BSP, RJD, JD(S) — will also be voting in Mr Mukherjee’s favour.

As many as 4,120 MLAs and 776 MPs with a total vote value of 10.98 lakh votes make up the electoral college for the presidential election. The polling for the 14th presidential election will begin at 10 am and will continue till 5 pm.

The total vote value is 10.98 lakh and a winning candidate needs to get 5,49,442 vote value if all of them exercise franchise. The votes will be counted on Sunday and the result is expected to be known by early evening.

Arrangements have been made at Room No. 63 of Parliament House and in Assembly buildings in every state capital to enable the electors to cast their vote. It is understood that a majority of regional parties have directed their elected representatives to cast their votes in the regional centres.

Regional parties which are likely to voting in the state assemblies include the AIADMK, Trinamul Congress, JD(U), SP, RJD, BJD and the Akali Dal, among others.

The move is based on expected lines as the regional parties aim to keep their flock together and try to make their elected representatives vote along party lines.

Another 32,000 votes of smaller parties, who have no presence in Parliament, will cast their votes in the states. The Election Commission has granted permission to 77 MPs to cast their votes in different state capitals, while eight MLAs from seven states have got the nod of the poll authority to vote in Parliament House.

Rajya Sabha secretary-general and the returning officer for the polls V.K. Agnihotri said that each elector has been sent a letter regarding the presidential poll and they have been requested to bring it with them when they come to cast their vote.