Parliament and State Assemblies will vote to choose India's next President on Monday with NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind — pitted against Opposition nominee Meira Kumar — appearing to have a clear edge in the race for the country's highest constitutional office. Counting of votes will take place in Delhi on Thursday.
Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Sunday made last-ditch efforts to convince the Electoral College members — MPs and MLAs — to back their candidates.
At an all-party meeting here, Modi said that a consensus candidate would have been better. He, however, praised the "high level of dignity" maintained by both sides during the campaign, saying there was no ill will shown and foul language used. He also called upon all political parties to ensure that everyone votes and no vote is wasted.
Sonia addressed the Opposition and described Meira Kumar's bid as a fight against a "narrow-minded, divisive and communal vision".
A united Opposition initially had a razor-thin edge, but BJP president Amit Shah's deft handling brought many regional parties to support Kovind.
Even the JD (U) broke ranks to stand by the NDA candidate.
The Samajwadi Party also appears divided between Mulayam Singh Yadav and party chief Akhilesh Yadav, triggering a cross-voting possibility. Though the division in the party may not have any bearing on the election result, it will certainly complicate the family feud further, say SP leaders.
To avoid any controversy, the Electoral College members have been barred from carrying personal pens inside voting chambers. They will have to mark their ballot with a specially-designed marker, the Election Commission (EC) said.
Serial-numbered pens with violet ink have been supplied by the EC. "Before entering voting chambers, polling staff will collect personal pens from the voters and hand over the special pens to be returned later," an EC official told reporters.
These special pens have been procured from Mysore Paints & Varnish Ltd that supplies indelible ink to the EC.
In another first, the EC has also prepared special posters carrying dos and don'ts for the voters. It has also warned against any whip or directive by political parties to their members to vote in favour of any particular candidate.
Since it is a secret ballot, the voters should not disclose whom they have voted for. Green-coloured ballot papers will be for MPs and pink ones for MLAs who vote in the election.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Prez poll")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}