Numerically-short Congress appealed to the conscience of MLAs during voting for Presidential Election 2017 which saw a full house at Assembly
‘Short on numbers’ Congress in the presidential poll battle was relying completely on ‘Antaratma’ (conscience) of MLAs in ruling party and others as voting proceeded in the state assembly with 199 MLAs casting their vote on Monday. Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot exercised right of franchise in Gujarat Assembly on a special request.
Polling for presidential elections commenced at 10 am and concluded at 2:15 pm with all 199 legislators exercising their franchise.
UDH minister Srichand Kriplani, who was a polling agent for NDA candidate Ramnath Kovind, was the first voter who exercised right of franchise while Independent MLA Anju Dhanka was the last to mark ballot paper. Kriplani was followed by Congress Govind Singh Dotasara and Ramesh Meena.
‘Antarama’, a word sounded many a time by Congress MLAs who were cornered by mathematics of votes which is in favour of the saffron party.
“I have hopes that legislators will vote after listening the conscience. This is a democracy of votes and we will surely garner support,” said Rameshwer Dudi, leader of Opposition before entering into the polling venue. Dotasra, Ramesh Meena, Ghansyam Maher, Ashok Chandna, Mahendra Jeet Malviya repeated the conscience factor in their favour too.
Though, this exaggeration of so called conscience-call fall completely flat on what calculation suggests. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is assured of having support of 171 MLAs including 161 of its own. As per the leaders votes of four MLAs of NPP, two MLAs of Zamindara and five out of 7 independents went to Kovind.
“NDA candidate Kovind will secure 171 votes. Two MLAs of Zamindara will vote to us. The tally of votes could reach over 171,” said BJP state president Ashok Parnami. Industry minister Rajpal Singh Shekhawat, higher education minister Kiran Maheshwari, home minister Gulab Chand Kataria, Transport minister Yunus Khan and Assembly speaker Kailash Meghwal also claimed victory of Kovind with maximum votes from Rajasthan.
The claim of Parnami hinted at cross voting in the Congress and this might be possible as leaders of the opposition except a dozen who cast votes in initial hours reached the venue in groups. The Rajasthan Assembly has 200 MLAs. BJP has 161 MLAs, Congress 24, four of NPP, two each of Zamindara Party and BSP, and seven independent. Two MLAs of BSP, Manoj Nyangali and Puran Chand Saini voted for Congress presidential candidate Meira Kumar.
Meanwhile, Senior Congress leader Vishvendra Singh has once again attacked his own party while talking to mediapersons after casting his vote for the presidential election on Monday. Singh without naming any leader said that the Congress has failed to perform a proactive role of the Opposition inside and outside the Vidhan Sabha.
Experts believe that the Jat leader is trying to give a political message, ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s Banswara visit, by such statements against his own party.
SEAT RESERVED IN NAME OF ‘BOX’
A ballot box carrying votes cast by Rajasthan MLAs was flown to New Delhi on late Monday evening . A seat in the plane in the name of ‘box’ was reserved by the election commission of India (ECI). A staff of six security guards was deployed to keep the box safe. Suresh Kumar, observer appointed by the ECI for polling held in Rajasthan Assembly, monitored the dispatch.
){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}
 "Vasundhara Raje")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}