Voting for India's 13th president began on Thursday in assemblies across the state and in the capital's Parliament House, ending more than a month of campaigning that was marked by unprecedented mudslinging.
NEW DELHI: Voting for India's 13th president began on Thursday in assemblies across the state and in the capital's Parliament House, ending more than a month of campaigning that was marked by unprecedented mudslinging.
Voting began at 10 am and will go on till 5 pm with around 4,000 legislators and parliamentarians choosing between the ruling United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) candidate Pratibha Patil and opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-backed independent, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was among the first to cast his vote in Parliament House, where security was increased in view of the election, which is expected to go to Patil who is set to become the first woman president of the country that celebrates its 60th anniversary of independence next month.
While MPs and 12 legislators from various states, who have taken prior permission from the Election Commission, will register their secret ballot in Room 62 of parliament building, the other legislators are expected to vote in the respective state assembly buildings.
An estimated 58 MPs are also voting outside the national capital, in their respective state assemblies.
Although 4,120 MLAs and 776 MPs constitute the Electoral College, the United National Progressive Alliance's (UNPA) decision to keep away from the battle means the number of voters is going to come down.
Interestingly, some MPs of the AIADMK, a major constituent of the UNPA, reportedly reached parliament to cast their vote.
Apart from the UNPA, smaller parties like the Janata Dal-Secular, Telangana Rashtra Samiti and Trinamool Congress also are abstaining from the voting.
The total value of the Electoral College is calculated as 1.09 million votes. The value of an MP's vote is 708 while that of an MLA depends on the basis of the population of a state.
The counting will take place Saturday and the new president will take over July 25.
The run-up to the presidential election has been bitter with both the UPA and the NDA exchanging allegations of fraud and corruption against the other's candidate.
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