Polling smooth for Presidential election in Karnataka

Bangalore, July 19 (UNI) As many as 164 legislators, belonging to both Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party exercised their franchise till 1500 hours to elect the new President of India in the 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly here this afternoon.

The voting which began at 1000 hrs amidst tight security at Vidhana Soudha, the central secretariat of the Karnataka state government, will end at 1700 hrs.

Apart from 164 members three Lok Sabha members including Cinestar turned politician Mr Ambareesh (Cong), Smt Manorama Madhwaraj and S Mallikarjunaiah (Both BJP) also exercised their franchise.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge said that as many 84 members, including all the Congress MLAs had voted.

BJP legislator Araga Jnanendra informed that 80 members, including 77 BJP legislators, had cast their votes.

The JD(S) legislators including Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Karnataka Assembly Speaker Krishna had stayed away from exercising their votes in the presidential elections.

However eight rebel JD(S) members including former Minister H Mahadevappa defied party's stand and reportedly supported UPA Candidate Pratibha Patil.

Mr P G R Sindhia, member of Surendra Mohan faction of JD(S), also exercised his vote and said that his party supported UPA candidate as it would help a woman to become the President of the country for the first time.

UNI