Presidential election takes of in Uttarakhand

Dehradun, July 19 (UNI) Voting for the Presidential election began on the Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha premises amid tight security at 1000 hrs today.

Assembly Speaker Harbans Kapoor was among the first members who came to excercise their franchise. By 1045 hrs, about 30 members had cast their votes.

The polling will continue till 1700 hrs. The authorised voters in the state presently include 69 MLAs and eight Members of Parliament, including three from Rajya Sabha and five of the Lok Sabha. Out of the 69 MLAs, 35 belong to Bharatiya Janata Party, 20 to Congress, eight are from the Bahujan Samaj Party, three are of Uttarakhand Kranti Dal and three are independents. One assembly seat is currently vacant following the resignation of a Congress member recently.

All the three RS members are Congressmen.

Meanwhile, Congress and BJP have two LS members each while one belongs to the Samajwadi Party. Out of the 69 MLAs, Congress MLA Amrita Rawat would cast her vote in Delhi. Meanwhile, among eight MPs only Chief Minister Maj Gen (Retd) BC Khanduri would cast his vote here.

The others would practise their franchise in New Delhi, according to the Vidhan Sabha Secretary.

UNI