Over 65 pc voters cast ballots in first hour of polling

New Delhi, Aug 10 (UNI) Over 65 per cent of voters belonging to both Houses of Parliament cast their ballots within the first hour of the polling for the 13th Vice-Presidential election.

Among those who cast their votes within the first ten minutes included Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Mr Basudeb Acharia from the CPI(M) and Mr Gurudas Dasgupta and Mr D Raja, both from the CPI.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi came to cast her vote around 1030 hrs. She was accompanied by Women and Child Welfare Minister Renuka Chaudhary, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachauri and Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma.

The members were in a hurry to cast their votes as they all wanted to attend their respective Houses, which paid tributes to former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar who died during this intersession.

The voting will continue till 1700 hrs.

Congress MP from Amethi Rahul Gandhi is expected to come in the post-lunch session to cast his vote.

UNI