MPs, MLAs vote to elect 14th President of India


New Delhi, Jul 17 (IANS): Parliamentarians and legislators across India began voting on Monday to elect the country's 14th President in a direct contest between ruling NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind and opposition-backed Meira Kumar.

Polling to choose the successor of incumbent Pranab Mukherjee, who demits office on July 25, started simultaneously in the national and state capitals at 10 a.m.

All elected MPs and MLAs are eligible to cast their vote. The voting is through secret ballot.

As voting picked up, many MPs, including women members, were seen queuing up in Parliament House outside the polling booth in Room No 62 for the voting that ends at 5 p.m.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah were among the first to cast their votes in Parliament.

Modi, clad in a beige colour sleeveless jacket over a white kurta-pyjama, reached the parliament premises early to vote. It is also the first day of the over three-week monsoon session of Parliament.

The Prime Minister said the session was expected to herald in a new hope for India.

"Today the monsoon session begins. Like the monsoon brings hope, this session also brings same spirit of hope," Modi said before casting his vote.

Shah, who is an MLA from Gujarat and was allowed to cast his vote in Parliament, also used his franchise in the contest between Kovind and Kumar, who was a former Lok Sabha Speaker.

MPs were voying on green paper ballots and state lawmakers on pink. They cannot use their own pens to vote and were given unique serial-numbered special pens with violet ink.

After voting ends, ballot boxes from the states would be flown to Delhi and stored in Parliament.

The votes would be counted and results would be announced on July 20.

"Kovindji will win with a comfortable and respectable margin," Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said before leaving for Parliament to vote.

The total value of votes of the electoral college is 10,98,903, and the NDA candidate is slated to cross the halfway-mark and get about 63 per cent votes.

If elected, 71-year-old Kovind will be the second Dalit to become President after K.R. Narayanan, who was the 10th President.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Aubb, Kuwait

    Mon, Jul 17 2017

    Does India still need a President...?

    if yes,
    He should be the head of state and not a Rubber stamp!!

    Let's find ways to cut wasteful expenditure at the cost of tax payers.

    Jai Hind!!!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ramesh S, MANGALORE

    Mon, Jul 17 2017

    HENRY, Bahrain..if people vote a candidate (irrespective criminal background) & wins, its voters mistake not candidates mistake..i wonder why KOVIND is not acceptable to you..check his credentials, why only BJP is communal other parties sacred!..In 2002 BJP first proposed PC ALEXANDER (a christian) for presidency , eventhogh he was a Congi, Congress did not agree in spite of repeated requests from the BJP.. Alexander quit the post disgusted with his party Congress..then BJP proposed APJ name(a Muslim), but Congress not interested..in last minute to save face supported..still Congress secular but BJP communal !!

    DisAgree [4] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • MN, Mangalore

    Mon, Jul 17 2017

    We need amendment. President should be elected by People of India directly. Presidential candidate should not be a political figure. There should be no reservation based on caste/creed/religion for this highest post. Then only we may have APJ Kalam like candidates.

    Last but not least, President should have upper hand not just a rubber stamp, when it comes to legislation.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian, Mangalore/Kuwait

    Mon, Jul 17 2017

    @HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain
    "Honest, Educated & Tolerant Rubber stamp!!

    It is very much clear in the present scenerio.

    For instance:-
    "Maharashtra bans beef, 5 years jail, Rs 10,000 fine for possession or sale

    The President had signed the Bill and sent it to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which then informed the Maharashtra Governor of the decision."
    And within few days, Mr. Modi/Supreme Court comes out with new version on Cow slaughter and consumption of Beef or Cattle trading.
    Who is controling who?
    Is RSS, Senas, VHP controling Mr. Modi?
    What is Modi's over all role in other areas.?
    Who created Cow vigilnate and issued instructions.
    How many U-Turns>

    We lost in internal self creataed issues and at the border a buning issue remains burning

    DisAgree [4] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Mon, Jul 17 2017

    184 (34%) out of 543 Lok Sabha MPs, 44(19%) out of 231 Rajya Sabha MPs and 1353(33%) out of 4078 MLAs (all state assemblies / UTs) analysed have declared criminal cases against themselves.
    Anyways .. it seems that the largest democracy in the world does not have a candidate who is neutral and intellectual . Miss you Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • MILAN, LUCERNE

    Mon, Jul 17 2017

    BAD CHOICE... HE IS FOR NAME SAKE ONLY.. REMOTE CONTROL WILL BE MODI

    DisAgree [7] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sathish shetty, Mangalore

    Tue, Jul 18 2017

    Modi made a mistake. Pratibha Patil is most suitable candidate so humble and dedicated person.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Mon, Jul 17 2017

    We need an Honest, Educated & Tolerant President ...

    DisAgree [5] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Peter, Udupi

    Mon, Jul 17 2017

    Are you in dream?

    DisAgree [5] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Mon, Jul 17 2017

    Honest, Educated & Tolerant Rubber stamp!!

    DisAgree [4] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • hemanth, Bangalore

    Mon, Jul 17 2017

    But we can not have 3 precidents

    DisAgree [2] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: MPs, MLAs vote to elect 14th President of India



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