38 out of 40 MLAs cast their votes in prez poll in Mizoram

Thirtyeight of the total 40 MLAs of Mizoram cast their votes at the assembly secretariat here today to elect the next president of the country.
The value of the vote of each Mizoram's legislator is eight.
State assembly secretariat officials said two ruling Congress members - Minister of State for Disaster Management C Ngunlianchunga and S Laldingliana were outside the state for medical treatment and could not vote.
Thirtytwo Congress legislators voted for the joint opposition candidate Meira Kumar, while five MNF members cast their votes in favour of the ruling NDA nominee Ram Nath Kovind.
MNF spokesperson Lalruatkima said that the party's lawmakers voted for Kovind as he belonged to a dalit community and was nominee of the NDA.

MNF is a constituent of North East Democratic Alliance which supported NDA at the Centre.
The lone Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) legislator Lalthanliana, however, refused to divulge who he voted for.
He was given a free hand in the polls by the party's high command.