165 MLAs, three MPs vote for Prez poll in K'taka

Bangalore, July 19 (UNI) In all, 165 member MLAs, including the Speaker of 224-member Karnataka Assembly and three MPs exercised their franchise in the Presidential elections here today.

According to sources at the end of the polling, 85 members, including opposition Congressmen and their supporters voted while 79 legislators cast their vote from the BJP group.

In a surprise development, Speaker Krishna, who was elected on Janata Dal (S) ticket, decided to cast his vote contrary to the party's decision to maintain equidistance from both the Congress and the BJP.

As many as 48 members belonging to the JD(S) stayed away from polling as per the party's decision. Eight other legislators supporting JD(S) did not participate in the polling. Three BJP MLAs -- B C Mohan, Sunita Veerappa Gowda and Belur Gopalakrishna-- also did not vote.

The three Members of Parliament, who cast their votes were filmstar and Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting M H Ambareesh, Manorama Madhwaraj and P V Mallikarjunaiah.

(Ed: pickup suitably from earlier series) UNI