286 MLAs, 17 MPs cast votes in Maharashtra

Mumbai, July 19 (UNI) As many as 286 MLAs and 16 MPs from Maharashtra cast their votes to elect the 13th President of India at Vidhan Bhavan here today.

Out of 288 MLAs, one Congress legislator Kripashankar Singh cast his vote in Delhi and BJP MLA Suresh Dhas did not participate in the polling due to the demise of his father this morning.

Speaking to reporters after the close of polling, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshvardhan Patil, who is the election respresentative of UPA candidate Pratibha Patil, said 15 MPs of Shiv Sena and one of BJP (Ved Prakash Goyal) exercised their franchise in Mumbai. Shiv Sena has 16 MPs and industrialist Raj Kumar Dhoot was not present. ''May be, he cast his vote in Delhi,'' Mr Patil said.

He exuded confidence that Ms Pratibha Patil will get over 40,000 votes out of the total 50,400. ''Based on the support of all political parties excluding the BJP, I can confidently say that Pratibhatai will get more than 40,000 votes out of the total 50,400.

Ms Patil is expected to get votes from 230 to 232 MLAs and the value of each MLA's vote is 175,'' he explained.

Mr Patil also admitted that the ruling front has lost one vote because BJP dissident MLA Suresh Dhas did not turn up for voting.

''I am sure Ms Patil will get the largest chunk of votes from Maharashtra, her home state,'' he said.

The ballot box has been sealed and kept in the strong room on the 9th floor of Vidhan Bhavan under tight security. The ballot box will be taken to Delhi tomorrow accompanied by two Election Commission officials amid security.

Mr Patil said he would be present at the counting of votes at the Parliament House, adding that the counting of votes would be taken up state-wise. MPs voted on a green colour ballot paper while MLAs voted on a pink one.

He said Health Minister Dr Vimal Mundada asked for a fresh ballot paper and hence the first paper was sealed and declared invalid. The sealed paper was enclosed in an envelop which was marked as cancelled ballot and will be sent to Delhi along with the ballot box.

Mr Patil said the ruling NCP, Congress, independents and Shiv Sena gave only first preference votes to Ms Pratibha Patil. There will be no second preference votes.

The Minister said he was the first to vote at 1000 hrs and the last member to vote was Pappu Kalani of RPI (A) at 1545 hrs. He said the ruling coalition had appealed to smaller parties like Shetkari Sangathana, Akhil Bharatiya Sena, and BBM to vote for Ms Patil. ''I am confident they would have done so,'' he added.

UNI