A day ahead of the Presidential election, the YSR Congress has announced its decision to support United Progressive Alliance (UPA) nominee Pranab Mukherjee in the elections scheduled on Thursday. It will also back the UPA’s candidate for the vice-president’s post, Hamid Ansari.
Following the party’s decision, the battle lines are clearly drawn for the elections. The Congress, MIM, CPI (M), Lok Satta have decided to support Mr. Mukherjee, the TDP, and CPI will abstain while the BJP will back P.A. Sangma.
The “mood” in the Telangana Rashtra Samiti too is said to be in favour of abstaining as the party feels Mr. Mukherjee was responsible for the delay in the Centre’s decision on separate Telangana.
All arrangements are in place for the voting which will be held in the Committee Hall of the Assembly. All but one of the 294 MLAs have been listed for voting.
The exception is Telugu Desam MLA from Khanapur Suman Rathode who has not been included in the voters’ list since a case challenging her election is pending in the Supreme Court.
The Legislature authorities set up three compartments in the polling station, and two reception counters to assist the electors in exercising their franchise.
Tight security has been put in place and entry would be restricted to the electors and valid pass holders.
Arrangements have also been made for escorting to the polling station on wheelchairs those who are indisposed.
Four MPs -- Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy and M. Rajamohan Reddy (both YSR Congress), former Chief Minister N. Janardhan Reddy (Congress) and K. Narayana Rao (TDP) -- have also opted to cast vote in the Assembly.
YSR Congress MP Mr. Rajamohan Reddy explained at a press conference here on Thursday that his party had decided to utilise the vote rather than remain neutral, which he said, was undemocratic.
Two options
Reading out the party’s policy announcement on the Presidential elections, Mr. Rajamohan Reddy said YSR Congress had two options before it, either vote or not vote. “As a responsible party facing such a situation, we did not want to set a bad example by not voting,” he said.
The YSRC MP pointed out that parties such as JD (U), Samajwadi Party, MIM, Bahujan Samaj Party, Shiv Sena and Left parties had decided to back Mr. Mukherjee’s candidature as they feel that he would act apolitical and independently. The Chanchalguda jail authorities said they have addressed a letter to police to shift Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy and former Minister Mopidevi Venkataramana to the Assembly at 10 a.m.
