97 pc polling in Vice Presidential poll, counting begins

New Delhi, Aug 10 (UNI) Polling in the 13th Vice Presidential elections was completed this evening with 762 MPs of the total electoral college of 783 exercising their franchise to decide the fate of UPA-Left nominee Hamid Ansari, NDA candidate Najma Heptullah and UNPA's Rashid Masood.

As many as 21 MPs belonging to various political parties did not participate in this election process, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi told reporters here.

Among those who did not cast their votes included the four members from the Telengana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS), and an equal number from the Janata Dal (Secular) and BJP. Cine star-turned-MP Govinda (Congress) and one MP each from the BSP, CPI, CPI(M) also did not exercise their franchise. The other abstainers included an independent MP, nominated member Dara Singh and a few others also didnot cast their vote, Mr Dasmunsi said.

Four MPs, including actor Dharmendra (BJP), being abroad, could not vote in the polls.

Among the significant absentees were former BJP president Jana Krishnamurthy, Swami Adityanath and Laxman Singh, who is brother of AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh (all BJP).

Mr Dasmunsi lauded NCP supremo and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar for making special efforts to exercise his franchise. Mr Pawar's elder brother had died last night in Maharashtra, and the Minister had gone to attend the cremation and came back right afterwards to cast his vote.

He also appreciated the effort of Priya Dutt, whose brother and actor Sanjay Dutt's bail application came up today at the Supreme Court, for coming to exercise her franchise. Ms Dutt, who is the political heir of her father, the late Sunil Dutt, is also in an advanced stage of pregnancy, but came to vote. However, Govinda could not come as his car was reportedly attacked by some people, Mr Dasmunsi said.

Even though the counting of votes, slated to start at 1800 hrs, is not likely to be over before 1930 hrs, Mr Dasmunsi said that he was confident that the UPA nominee would win.

''As per the norms I have to collect the result and deliver at the residence of the winning candidate, which in all probability, will be 11 South Avenue, the residence of Dr Hamid Ansari,'' he added.

UNI