Cross-voting favours Meira Kumar in Rajasthan

Unlike in several other states, cross-voting in the presidential election seems to have gone against National Democratic Alliance (NDA) presidential nominee Ram Nath Kovind in Rajasthan.

Kovind secured 166 votes from the state in the presidential poll, results of which were declared on Thursday, while opposition-backed Congress candidate Meira Kumar got 34 votes.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has 161 MLAs in the 200-member assembly and the number of Congress legislators is 24.

The BJP was sure of securing 171 votes, which included 161 of its own party, four of Independents, four of National People's Party and two of National Unionist Zamindara Party.

The Congress, on the other hand, was banking on 29 votes, which included 24 of its own, two Bahujan Samaj Party's and three of Independents.

However, opposition-supported Kumar bagged 34 votes, which shows that five of the votes that the BJP was claiming to be of theirs have gone to the Congress candidate.

"It clearly shows cross-voting and dissatisfaction against the BJP leadership in the state," Sachin Pilot, the state Congress president said in a statement.

"It seems that listening to inner voice, some of the BJP MLAs have voted for the Congress candidate. It clearly shows there is division and frustration in the BJP Legislature Party," Rameshwar Dudi, Leader of Opposition and Congress leader said.

--IANS

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