Arrangements complete for presidential poll in TN

Chennai, July 18 (UNI) The stage is set for MLAs and MPs from Tamil Nadu to cast their votes in tomorrow's polling for the Presidential election to choose the successor to incumbent A P J Abdul Kalam.

The polling would be held from 1000 hrs to 1700 hrs at the Legislature Committee room situated near the State Assembly.

Official sources told UNI that all arrangements have been completed and the ballot papers and ballot boxes have arrived for the polls.

While pink colour ballot papers would be given to the MLAs, the MPs, who have opted to exercise their franchise in Chennai, would get green colour ballot papers.

The list of voters (MLAs), with their photos, was ready for reference at the time of polling. Copies of the list would be given to the polling agents, to be appointed by Presidential nominees Congress-led UPA-backed and favourite Pratibha Patil and Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, supported by the Opposition BJP-led NDA.

The entire poll process would be videographed as per the directions of the Election Commission, whose Observer S K Srivastva arrived here this afternoon to oversee the poll arrangements.

Assistant Returning Officer and Assembly Secretary M Selvaraj said that except the lone Anglo-Indian member nominated to the State Assembly, all other MLAs were eligible to exercise their franchise.

While the DMK-led DPA have all the 40 MPs in Tamil Nadu and Pudducherry under their belt, in the 234-member Assembly, the DMK and its allies have a total of 166 MLAS.

While the DMK has 96 MLAs, its alliance partners, which had been extending outside support to the DMK Government, have a total of 70 MLAs with Congress having 35 legislators, PMK 18, CPI-M nine, CPI six and DPI two.

The Opposition AIADMK and its ally MDMK, who were constituents of the newly-formed UNPA, have decided to abstain from voting after the front failed to muster enough support for a second term to Mr Kalam. While AIADMK has 60 MLAs, the MDMK has six.

The other two MLAs were actor-turned-politician Vijaykant of the DMDK and an Independent.

Sources said Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, industrialist and Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka M A M Ramaswamy and Lok Sabha MPs S K Kaarvendhan, L Ganesan, R Dhanushkodi Athithan and Gingee N Ramachandran have opted to exercise their franchise in Chennai.

UNI