Four ballot papers replaced, Minister makes mistake in casting vote

New Delhi, Jul 19 (UNI) Even as voting in the presidential poll was progressing smoothly orderly and peacefully, four ballot papers had to be changed as Minister of State for Finance Pawan Kumar Bansal and Janata Dal (United) President Sharad Yadav made mistakes in casting their vote.

Mr Bansal, a senior Congress leader, had inadvertantly cast a vote in favour of NDA-supported Independent candidate Bharon Singh Shekhawat. However, realising his mistake, he asked the Returning Officer PDT Achary to change his ballot paper.

Though the election agent of Mr Shekhawat challenged his request, it was over-ruled by the Election Commission, which supplied a fresh ballot paper to Mr Bansal who ultimately cast vote in favour of UPA-Left nominee Pratibha Patil.

Mr Sharad Yadav also made a request for changing his ballot paper as he had used his own pen.

Asked whether he had voted according to his conscience, Mr Yadav said, ''Ham to NDA main hain. Ham Atma ya parmatma main vishwas nahin karte Hamne to better human being ko vote kiya jo Shekhawatji hain (We are part of NDA. We do not believe in conscience or God. We have voted for a better human being, that is Mr Shekhawat.)'' Jayaben Kakkar of the Congress got the ballot paper replaced as it had a marking. Another ballot had the same problem.

Meanwhile, Women and Child Development Minister Renuka Chowdhury was trying to escort UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi upto the ballot box. It created some confusion as Ms Gandhi thought that she was being told to go out. However, election officials clarified that Ms Chowdhury has to go out as it was a secret ballot and nobody was allowed to accompany any voter inside the polling booth.

UNI