Highlight
- NCP MLA Kandhal S Jadeja, Odisha Congress MLA Mohd Mokim cross voting in Presidential election
- I have voted for NDA’s presidential candidate. This is my personal decision: Congress MLA Mokim
- Some opposition parties had also announced their support for Draupadi Murmu.
Presidential Election 2022: As voting is underway for the election of the next President of India, several MPs have cross-voted the BJP-led NDA candidate Draupadi Murmu.
According to reports, NCP MLA Kandhal S Jadeja, Odisha Congress MLA Mohd Mokim and Samajwadi Party leaders are also among those who cross-voted in the presidential election so far.
NCP MLA Kandhal S Jadeja said, “He has voted for NDA’s presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu.”
Odisha Congress MLA said, “I am a Congress MLA but I have voted for NDA’s presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu. It is my personal decision as I have listened to my heart which directed me to do something for the soil. And that’s why voted for him.” Mohd Mokim.
Mokim said, “The legislators have the freedom to choose a suitable candidate for the presidency. As an Odia, I thought I would be proud if my vote would help Murmu win the election.”
Since the whip cannot be applied in the presidential election, I voted according to my conscience, Mokim said. The MLA also told that many of his well-wishers, friends and some big personalities have requested him to support Murmu.
Commenting on the cross voting done by Mokim, Congress Legislature Party leader Narsingh Mishra said that all the MLAs have unitedly decided to vote for the opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha.
Usually no action has been taken against any member as whip cannot be issued in this election. However, the manner in which Mokim has given the statement before the media will be questioned and the party will take a final call on the matter, Mishra said.
Meanwhile, some opposition parties had also announced their support to Draupadi Murmu.
SBSP chief OP Rajbhar said, “The road leading to Delhi passes through Lucknow. Draupadi Murmu is winning the election with a huge number of votes.”
Uddhav Thackeray faction Shiv Sena also supported Droupdai Murmu.
Aaditya Thackeray said, “In today’s presidential election, Shiv Sena is supporting Draupadi Murmu. We believe that presidential elections are different from any political election. This is the highest post and a suitable candidate should be voted for. So we took this decision.”
Notably, cross voting took place during the Rajya Sabha elections and Maharashtra Legislative Council elections last month as well.
All five BJP candidates had won 10 seats in the Legislative Council elections, whereas with its own numbers, the BJP could win only four seats. Shiv Sena and NCP won two seats each, while Congress could win only one seat.
,With inputs from PTI, IANS,
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