Cast 'conscience vote' in Presidential polls: Advani urges MPs, MLAs

New Delhi, July 5 (UNI) Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani today made a personal appeal to all MPs and MLAs to ''vote according to their conscience'' in the presidential polls, weighing the ''integrity and competence'' of the candidates to uphold the dignity of Rashtrapati Bhawan.

In a handwritten appeal, dated July 4, sent to all the members of the electoral college, Mr Advani sought the support of MPs and MLAs, cutting across party lines, saying that in this election, no political party can issue a whip and hence there can be no cross-voting.

''I am writing this letter to you on an important matter that could have a far reaching impact on our national life,'' he wrote to the 4,896 voters -- 776 MPs and 4120 MLAs -- across the country.

After the scrutiny of nominations, two candidates -- the UPA-Left's Pratibha Patil and the NDA-backed Independent candidate Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhwat -- remain in the fray.

In the last few days, there were media reports about charges against Mrs Patil and her kin over a period of time. These did not relate merely to financial misconduct but also an allegation pertaining to protection of criminals. The first category attracted strictures from the Reserve Bank of India while the second was implicitly endorsed by the Mumbai High Court, he said.

Mr Advani also recalled a situation when some of the ministers in the Manmohan Singh government were facing charges in the courts of law, a BJP and the NDA delegation went to Rashtrapati Bhawan seeking action against these 'tainted ministers' in the UPA government. ''What if the Rashtrapati Bhavan itself gets a 'tainted occupant'? This is the question the entire nation must ponder'', he said.

Charging the Congress President with ''devaluing'' the high office of Prime Minister of India by handpicking a person who exercised no authority of his own, he said now her plan seemed to make someone ''who just can't act independently'' the President.

Noting that the UPA's reaction to the serious allegations has been that it was a 'smear campaign' by the opponents, Mr Advani noted whatever adverse that had been said or written about were all charges which ante-dated her choice as presidential nominee. ''Only the last week, the country observed the 32nd anniversary of infamous proclamation of Emergency on the country by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, which was signed by the then President without seeking an explanation if it was discussed and approved in the Cabinet,'' he said, adding that ''if you have in the President's chair, a 'pliant person' who is not loyal to Constitution but to an individual, this is always likely to happen.'' UNI