'UNPA reworking its plan after EC's clarification'

New Delhi, July 18: Asserting that the Election Commission had addressed two important issues concerning abstention, the NDA today claimed that the United National Progressive Alliance, which had preferred to abstain from Presidential polls, was 'reworking' its strategy after the EC's clarification.

NDA spokesperson Sushma Swaraj claimed that there was obviously differences within the UNPA about abstaining and now they may revise their stand and allow its MPs and MLAs to excercise their franchise.

She said the NDA had sought two specific clarifications from the EC -- if a political party can ask its MPs and MLAs to abstain from voting and if the MPs violated their party's direction, would they attract the provisions of disqualification.

The EC had said in clear terms that if political parties ask its MPs to cast their vote in any particular fashion in Presidential polls, it would tantamount to exerting 'undue influence' under 171C of the IPC. The members of the electoral college were free to cast their votes in any manner they liked on their own without attracting the provisions of disqualification.

''As far as the NDA and Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat were concerned, they had approached each and every MP and MLA to cast his/her vote in the elections. The NDA had not asked its MPs and MLAs to cast their votes in any particular manner. If somebody is voting contrary to our appeal, there can be no action against them,'' she added.

She said after the EC's clarification, no political party can ask its voters to abstain. "They can't go with Congress and you can make your own guess which way they can vote", she remarked.

Asked about the reported comments from Leader of Opposition L K Advani that the BJP would not boycott Mrs Patil even if she were to be elected as President, Mrs Swaraj said she was not aware of the statement. "I was with Mr Advani till noon but he made no such statement", she asserted.

Asked if this meant that the NDA was reconciled to the electoral airthmatics, Mrs Swaraj said Mr Shekhawat has very fair chance of winning. "I am more than confident about this", she added.

UNI

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