The Hindu : National : Stage set for Presidential poll

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Thursday, Jul 19, 2007
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Stage set for Presidential poll

Special Correspondent

A number of members of Parliament seek to vote elsewhere

No let-up in exchange of words between poll managers
With many parties abstaining, the effective value of votes is 9.73 lakh

NEW DELHI: Even as hectic last-minute preparations were on in Parliament House for Thursday’s Presidential election, there was no let-up in the exchange of words between the poll managers of the two candidates.

While the strength of the electoral college is 10.98 lakh votes, the effective value is 9.73 lakh as several parties have decided to abstain.

A number of members of Parliament have sought permission to vote elsewhere. According to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, 58 MPs from across the political spectrum would vote either in their respective State Assemblies or in an Assembly of the State where they are currently located.

They include Union Ministers Vayalar Ravi and Ambika Soni, besides the entire Shiv Sena contingent which has opted to vote in Maharashtra. The Trinamool Congress which decided late on Wednesday evening to abstain from voting, earlier sought permission to vote in the West Bengal Assembly.

Devendra Dwivedi of the Congress regretted that, “During this period, two pillars of our democracy’s institutional edifice – the offices of Vice-President and Leader of the Opposition – stand specially damaged and denigrated due to the conduct of the present incumbents. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and L.K. Advani have misconducted themselves in their present offices.”

Union Minister Kapil Sibal described the Bharatiya Janata Party’s “infructuous efforts” to persuade the Election Commission to declare that no member of the electoral college was entitled to abstain as “an attempt to salvage a sinking ship.”

Questioning the BJP’s understanding of the Constitution, Mr. Dasmunsi — the official election agent for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-Left presidential candidate Pratibha Patil — said the Election Commission rebuffed it on the issue of abstention. As for the declaration of assets by Mr. Shekhawat, the Minister said the Election Commissioner’s office had not received any document pertaining to it.

Sudhakar Reddy of the Communist Party of India – responding to Mr. Advani’s letter pleading for a conscience vote — on Wednesday sought to know why Mr. Shekhawat was contesting as an independent candidate. “It seems you and your party have realised that your politics is not acceptable to the people of India. Then on what ground are you asking for a conscience vote?”

Mr. Shekhawat’s camp was canvassing votes from the UPA-Left electors right into the last leg of the campaign. Member of the Delhi Legislative Assembly Meera Bharadwaj of the Congress got a call from Mr. Shekhawat on Tuesday seeking her vote.

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