Shiv Sena boosts NDA strength in electoral college

With sulking ally Shiv Sena coming out in support of Ram Nath Kovind, the NDA's strength in the Presidential electoral college got a major boost on Monday carrying its support to nearly 61 per cent of the vote value.

Shiv Sena, which has not voted with the NDA in the last two presidential elections and has a love-hate relationship with BJP, had created doubts recently about which way it would vote in the July 17 election.

On Monday, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had reacted to BJP's announcement of Kovind as the NDA candidate saying it was aimed at caste appeasement. However, Thackeray on Tuesday endorsed Kovind's candidature.

The NDA, including Shiv Sena and another ally Peoples Democratic Party of Jammu and Kashmir, which also extended support to Kovind on Tuesday, commands the support of 48.93 per cent in the electoral college.

With the backing of parties outside the alliance like TRS (2 per cent), AIADMK (5.39 per cent), YSR Congress (1.53 per cent) BJD (2.99 per cent), the NDA's support would cross the half way mark comfortably to reach nearly 61 per cent.

The total value of votes of 4,896 electors in the current election is 10,98,903. Of this, the NDA originally commanded a vote share of 48.9 per cent at 5,37,683. With the backing of parties outside the NDA formation, the share has now shot up to nearly 61 per cent--that is over 6,70,330.

--IANS

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