BJP's expectation fell short ; Congress claims turned true in Raj

Jaipur, July 21 (UNI) The vote secured by NDA backed-Independent candidate Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in the July 19 presidential polls from 200-member electoral college in Rajasthan was too short of the ruling BJP's expectations while as the estimates of Ms Pratibha Patil's votes, by rival Congress turned to be realistic.

While the ruling party was expecting to get 144 to 150 of the 200 MLAs votes in favour of Mr Shekhawat, the main opposition Congress had claimed that it would get votes of 62 to 63 MLAs in the state.

The Congress estimates were realised as Ms Patil got 63 votes where as the vote picked by Mr Shekhawat(134) were much below the ruling prty's expectation and claims.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rajendra Singh Rathore had said on Thursday that in view of Mr Shekhawat's national stature and his close rapport with leaders of all parties, several members had cut across party lines to vote for him on the ''call of conscience.'' Mr Rathore had said the BJP was expecting to muster around 140 to 144 votes till Wednesday night but now, after close of polling, he was expecting the figure to touch 150.

However, Congress state President B D Kalla had instantly dismissed Mr Rathore's claims and had said all Congress members were united and they all cast their votes for Ms Patil.

He had said Congress at present was having effective strength of 54 in the 200 member state assembly but adding support from allies and supporting Independents, he was expecting 62 or 63 votes in favour of Ms Patil.

Besides, Congress' own strength, Ms Patil got votes from BSP(2), CPI(M) and LJP(one each) and Independents(5), Mr Kalla had asserted.

As per the present party position BJP won 122 of the total 200 assembly seats in last assembly elections. Of this its member Surendra Singh presently stands expelled from the party. Besides this, the ruling party was banking on the support of INLD(3), JD(U)(2), Samajik Nyaya Manch(one) and Independents(eight).

Accordingly the NDA allies' own strengthen in the house is 135 but its nominee Mr Shekhawat mustered only 134.

Likewise, the Congress had won 55 of the 200 assembly seats. One member Jagat Singh, the son of former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, presently stands expelled from the party.

Besides its own strength, the party was banking on votes of UPA allies LJP(One) and CPI(M)(one) and Independents(five) and this carries their figure exactly at 63(the number achieved by Ms Patil).

UNI