52 MLAs vote for President

SHILLONG, JULY 17: A total of 52 legislators of the 60-member house in Meghalaya cast their vote to elect the new President of the country, during the polling held in the state capital here. Counting will be held on July 20.

The candidates for the presidential elections were NDA’s nominee and former governor of Bihar, Ram Nath Kovind and former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar of the opposition Congress and its partners.

The election was also held after the term of the incumbent President Pranab Mukherjee will end onJuly 24.

“The state registered an 86.66 per cent of voter’s turnout with 52 members exercising their franchise,” state chief electoral officer (CEO) Frederick Kharkongor said after the election got over at5pm.

Asked, Kharkongor said that a total of eight legislators which include three from ruling parties and five from the opposition regional parties did not participate in the election.

Cabinet minister in-charge of PWD (Roads) Martin M Danggo and two independent MLAs who are supporting the MUA government – Justine Dkhar and Julius K Dorphang were among the absentees.

The former militant leader turned politician Dorphang, who is still in judicial custody after he was arrested for allegedly raping a minor girl earlier this year, had not applied for permission to vote.

The other MLAs include Ardent M Basaiawmoit, P Pangniang, Witting Mawsor and D Jyndiang of the HSPDP and Brolding Nongsiej of the United Democratic Party (UDP).

It may be mentioned here, the HSPDP had recently decided to abstain from the election in opposition against Kovind’s anti-minority stand and the Congress’s years of failure to govern the country.

Earlier today, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, his cabinet colleagues and members of the Congress-led MUA-II government which include 30 Congress, 2 NCP and 9 independents cast their vote for the candidate of their choice.

UDP chief and Leader of Opposition Donkupar Roy and 6 other MLAs of the party and two members of the National People Party (NPP), an NDA’s partner also participating during the election.

Meanwhile, the chief electoral officer informed that the ballot box will be kept at the strong room and will accordingly be taken by flight to Delhi tomorrow.

Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the elections, chief minister Mukul Sangma while expressing confidence in support of Congress’s nominee said today’s voting as proud members of the electoral collage is important.

“The decision of each member of the electoral collage in favour of anyone of the two candidates will indicate the endorsement of the agendas of the two groups (NDA and Congress),” he said.

Pointing out to foreseeable challenges given the kind of agendas being pursued by the NDA government, Sangma said, “Concerns expressed across the nation is precisely because of the agenda of the NDA government.”

Stating it will be quite interesting from Meghalaya’s perspective, he said that how other members belonging to the UDP and other regional parties decides, it will give a clear message (whether they endorse the agenda of the NDA or RSS).

“I always say BJP as a political party looks at Meghalaya as one of the states which they should take away from the Congress. In the past, the BJP has been trying to make in roads into the state by piggy ride on the regional parties,” he added.

“Now how the regional parties become partners of this BJP it will be quite interesting to watch for the people of the state and this is one occasion where people will be able to substantiate of what we are saying.”

Asked for his comment on the HSPDP’s decision to boycott the election, chief minister said that this is one way that the political party is trying to tell the people that they are not endorsing the agenda of the NDA government, the agenda of the BJP and the agenda of the RSS.

On the other hand, he however said, “But rather than doing that, they should have actually say that we would be standing firmly with those principles and ideologies which have enable this vibrant democracy of ours to withstand the test of time, I would have love to see that.”

Responding to a query on some of the MUA members who are skipping the election, chief minister however said that he was informed that the PWD minister MM Danggo had to undergo operation in a hospital at Chennai.

He said another friend Justine Dkhar had also spoken to him yesterday informing that despite his best intention, he is unable to come as his daughter is taking treatment in Bangalore for treatment as she was suffering from dengue.