The Hindu : New Delhi News : Stage is set for the Presidential election today

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Thursday, Jul 19, 2007
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New Delhi

Stage is set for the Presidential election today

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Even as hectic last-minute preparations were on in Parliament House on Wednesday for Thursday’s Presidential election, there was no let-up in the exchange of words between the poll managers of the two candidates.

While the strength of the electoral college is 10.98 lakh votes, the effective value is 9.73 lakh as several parties have decided to abstain.

A number of members of Parliament have sought permission to vote elsewhere. According to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, 58 MPs from across the political spectrum would vote either in their respective State Assemblies or in an Assembly of the State where they are currently located. This includes two Union Ministers, Vayalar Ravi and Ambika Soni, besides the entire Shiv Sena contingent which has opted to vote in Maharashtra. While the Trinamool Congress decided late on Wednesday evening to abstain from voting, earlier it had sought permission to vote in the West Bengal Assembly.

Devendra Dwivedi of the Congress regretted that, “During this period, two pillars of our democracy’s institutional edifice – the offices of the Vice-President and of the Leader of the Opposition – stand specially damaged and denigrated due to the conduct of the present incumbents. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and L.K. Advani have misconducted themselves in their present offices.”

Union Minister Kapil Sibal described the Bharatiya Janata Party’s “infructuous efforts” to persuade the Election Commission to declare that no member of the electoral college is entitled to abstain as “an attempt to hold on to the last straws of a sinking ship.”

Questioning the BJP’s understanding of the Constitution, Mr. Dasmunsi — the official election agent for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-Left presidential candidate Pratibha Patil — said the Election Commission had rebuffed it on the issue of abstention. As for the declaration of assets by Mr. Shekhawat, the Minister said the Election Commissioner’s office had not received any document pertaining to it.

Sudhakar Reddy of the Communist Party of India – responding to Mr. Advani’s letter pleading for a conscience vote — on Wednesday sought to know why Mr. Shekhawat was contesting as an independent candidate. Mr. Shekhawat’s camp was canvassing for votes from the UPA-Left electors right into the last leg of the campaign. Member of the Delhi Legislative Assembly Meera Bharadwaj of the Congress got a call from Mr. Shekhawat on Tuesday seeking her vote.

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