Polling in one the most bitterly fought Presidential elections will be held to choose a successor to Kalam, with all indications pointing in favour of Pratibha Patil.
NEW DELHI: Polling in one the most bitterly fought Presidential elections will be held on Thursday to choose a successor to A P J Abdul Kalam, with all indications pointing to a one-sided that in favour of UPA-Left candidate Pratibha Patil.
Patil, backed also by BSP and some other smaller parties, is far ahead in the electoral arithmetic as against Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the NDA-backed independent who has failed to keep even the opposition alliance in tact.
The ruling alliance is claiming that Patil will romp home with a margin of about three lakh votes while the BJP-led NDA believes that the conscience vote will help Shekhawat spring a surprise in an electoral college having over 10.98 lakh vote value.
During the month-long no-holds-barred campaign, the NDA camp sought to "expose" Patil for the "lapses" during her Chairpersonship of a cooperative bank in Maharashtra and alleged diversion of MPLAD funds for a trust run by her husband, attempted to embarrass Shekhawat by projecting the "real face of the independent candidate", especially his RSS link.
The 4,896-strong electoral college comprises 776 MPs and 4,120 MLAs from 30 states and union territories.
Out of a total vote value of over 10.98 lakh, the UPA claims nearly six lakh in its favour to ensure a smooth sail for Patil.
The hopes of NDA camp for a credible show by Shekhawat were dashed with the newly formed United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) deciding to abstain from voting and BJP's allies Shiv Sena breaking ranks and deciding to support Patil, on the ground that a Maharashtrian was tipped to hold one of the highest posts in the country.
Shiv Sena's decision has shocked the BJP which has dubbed it as a betrayal by its oldest ideological ally.
Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress has also not signed the nominations of Shekhawat despite being a part of the NDA and has not so far revealed its stand on the poll.
JD(S), though sharing power with BJP in Karnataka, has not revealed its card in the Presidential election so far. Telangana Rashtra Samiti which came out of UPA last year on the separate Telangana issue has also not made up its mind.
According to the UPA's poll managers, the confirmed votes of the BJP-led NDA are only 3,14,411, against the combined tally of 6,31,464 of the UPA, its allies and
supporting parties.
Congress has a vote share of 2,81,723, RJD 32,673, DMK 29,752, CPI(M) 81,722, CPI 15,130, RSP 6,360, Forward Bloc 7,365, Muslim League 2,480, RLD 4,912, NCP 25,204, JMM 5,824, RPI Athawale 883, Sikkim Democratic Front 2,933, PDP 2,568, LJP 4,613, PMK 8,156, MDMK (two members) 1,416, Autonomous Bodo Council 1416, Kerala Congress 1,316, JDS (rebel) 708, Loktantrik Congress 708, National Loktantrik Party 708.
The UPA has got assured support from parties like BSP with 57,008 and Shiv Sena 22,178 votes.
While the MPs would exercise their franchise in the Parliament House, the MLAs would do so in their respective state capitals between 10 AM and five PM.
The Election Commission has, for the first time, issued a series of dos and don'ts to ensure a smooth conduct of polling.
The EC has made it clear that the entire process of identifying the elector "shall be done with due care and deligence and not mechanically".
The EC has directed that the electors must produce an ID card issued by the assembly or Elector Photo Identity Cards or original copy of 'Certificate of Election'.
The Commission has barred use of cell phones by the electors and by the poll officials inside the polling stations.
To make the arrangement foolproof, the EC has decided that videography of critical events would be done by the poll officials.
Special instructions have also been issued for bringing ballot boxes containing polled ballot papers from state capitals to Delhi for counting on July 21. The EC has instructed that such boxes be always under the possession of the poll official concerned as hand luggage and in no circumstances be moved as 'checked-in luggage'.
){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}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}