The Hindu : National : Sushma urges UNPA to reconsider decision

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Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007
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Sushma urges UNPA to reconsider decision

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Tuesday welcomed the Election Commission’s ruling on BJP leader L.K. Advani’s petition in relation to the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) decision to abstain from voting in the July 19 Presidential election.

(The Election Commission had said that MLAs and MPs could abstain from voting in the Presidential poll but political parties could not direct members to do so.)

The Trinamool Congress and the Shiv Sena did not participate in a late evening meeting of the NDA parliamentary parties held here to brief members on how to cast “valid votes”.

The former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee chaired the meeting.

Speaking to mediapersons, the Presidential candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat’s spokesperson Sushma Swaraj said the Election Commission decision meant that any of the UNPA members who wanted to cast their vote could do so without attracting any action or disqualification. “The NDA has welcomed that.”

Earlier Ms. Swaraj said the UNPA would commit an “unforgivable mistake” by abstaining from voting.

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