305 UP MLAs cast vote for Presidential polls:SP abstains

Lucknow, July 19 (UNI) Altogether 305 MLAs today voted for the 13th Presidential election in Uttar Pradesh with the main opposition Samajwadi Party abstaining from the process.

One member of Lok Sabha-- BSP Anil Shukla-- also exercised his franchise in Lucknow.The absentees were entire 94 members of the SP and SP supported independent Imran Masood.

Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) and principal secretary (assembly) R P Pandey told UNI here that the polling was peaceful and 305 legislators out of the total 400 have exercised their franchise.

According to political observers, NDA-supported Bhairon Singh Shekhawat is expected to get 54 votes from the state of which 51 are from the BJP, one of Janata Dal(United) and two independents including Raja Bhaiyya and Vinod Singh.

The rest 251 MLAs and one MP including 209 of the BSP, 22 Congress, 10 RLD and rest others have supported UPA candidate Pratibha Patil.

Chief Minister Mayawati has not voted in the elections as is not elegible to vote after being elected to the UP Legislative Council.

MLAs in Uttar Pradesh have the largest vote share (83,200) in this election with each vote value is 208.

Mr Pandey said the ballot boxes will be airlifted to New Delhi tomorrow morning. Counting of votes will be taken up in New Delhi on July 21.

A total of 400 legislators were elegible to cast their votes in the poll with three seats vacant in the 403 member UP assembly.

(Eds: Pick up suitably from earlier takes) UNI