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NDA panel studying abstention

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: The National Democratic Alliance is examining whether the decision of the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) to abstain from voting in the Presidential election could be challenged in court.

The decision to abstain is not legally tenable and it amounts to issuing a whip, which is not allowed, according to Sushma Swaraj, spokesperson for the NDA-supported in dependent Presidential candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

Ms. Swaraj, who was here on Sunday to address a meeting of the BJP’s elected representatives, told reporters that the party had referred the matter to a committee headed by Arun Jaitely, which would examine whether it could be challenged in court or referred to the Election Commission.

In a democracy the right to vote was almost like a duty. By deciding to abstain from voting, the UNPA, which had votes over one lakh, had vitiated the electoral process, she said.

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