UP MLAs have largest vote value of 83,200 in Prez polls

Lucknow, July 17 (UNI) MLAs in Uttar Pradesh have the largest vote share (83,200) in Thursday's Presidential elections.

While the UP legislative assembly has a total of 404 MLAs, three seats are vacant and the lone nominated MLA has no voting rights.

With each MLA having a vote value of 208, the state MLAs enjoy a total value of 83,200, perhaps the largest in the country.

The ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Congress, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Jan Morcha and some Independents are supporting UPA-Left nominee Pratibha Patil. The BJP, along with JD (U) and some other MLAs is supporting Independent candidate and Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

The principal opposition Samajwadi Party, which is part of the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA), has decided to abstain from voting, much to the dismay of the NDA. With 94 MLAs in the house, the vote value of SP stands at 19,552.

Despite NDA's efforts, if the SP manages to stand by its decision, UP MLAs will cast a total of 63,648 votes on July 19 -- provided all those not abstaining turn up to exercise their franchise.

After her election to the state legislative council, BSP president and Chief Minister Mayawati will not be able to cast her vote and she has ceased to be a Rajya Sabha member.

Meanwhile, assistant returning officer (ARO) and principal secretary (state assembly) R P Pandey said today that voters will have to necessarily show their identity cards on the day of voting.

''Since 50 per cent of the MLAs are new, production of I cards is necessary,'' he added.

UNI