Shekhawat, Patil contesting but not voting in Prez polls

New Delhi, July 19 (UNI) Despite being a part of Parliament as Rajya Sabha Chairman, NDA supported Independent candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat could not cast vote in the Presidential polls today as he was not an elected member of the house.

Same happened with many nominated members who were also not allowed to cast vote as only 774 elected members were eligible to cast their votes for the highest constitutional post.

Unaware of the rule, nominated member Ms Kapila Vatsayan appeared at the Parliament House to cast her vote, but was turned away.

Clarifying Mr Shekhawat's position as far as voting was concerned, his polling agent and BJP legal cell incharge Satpal Jain said, ''Mr Shekhawat is an elected Vice President but not a member of any of the House.'' As far as UPA nominee is concerned, Ms Pratibha Patil is a former Governor of Rajasthan so she had no voting rights in the Presidential poll which only MPs and MLAs have.

UNI