Congress, NCP rubbish chances of cross-voting

The opposition Congress and Nationalist Congress Party on Sunday ruled out cross voting from their camp during the voting for Presidential election slated for Monday.

The Congress and NCP in their meeting also said that like minded parties such as CPM, Samajwadi Party, Peasants and Workers Party and MIM will vote for the UPA nominee Meira Kumar. The Opposition expects 90 plus votes in favour of Meira Kumar.

The Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and NCP group leader in the assembly Jayant Patil rubbished claims made by a section of NDA that some Congress and NCP members would vote for its candidate Ram Nath Kovind.

Both Vikhe Patil and NCP leader Jayant Patil said it was a fight for ideology and principles and said the opposition will vote for Meira Kumar.

Congress legislator Sanjay Dutt blamed the NDA for spreading rumours about cross voting from some members of Opposition. He alleged that such claims are being made by the NDA fearing cross voting from some of their members.

"Some disgruntled members from NDA may vote for Meira Kumar. So NDA should focus on keeping its flock together instead of spreading rumours about division in the UPA," Dutt said.

In the 288-member State Assembly, Congress has 42 members while NCP has 41, PWP two, Samajwadi Party two, CPM one and MIM two.

This apart, NCP has four members in the Lok Sabha and Congress has two MPs.