NEW DELHI: Nearly 4,800 elected MPs and MLAs will vote today to elect the 15th President of India, with NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu having a clear edge over Opposition’s Yashwant Sinha.
The polling will take place in Parliament House and state legislative assemblies for which ballot boxes have already reached their destinations, India Today reported.
The counting of votes will take place at Parliament House on July 21 and the next President will take oath on July 25, it said.
The electoral college which elects the president through the system of proportional representation comprises elected MPs and members of state legislative assemblies.
Nominated MPs and MLAs, and members of legislative councils are not entitled to vote in this election.
Backed by the BJP, its allies and several non-NDA parties, Droupadi Murmu is a shoo-in for the presidency, according to India Today.
With regional parties like the BJD, YSRCP, BSP, AIADMK, TDP, JD(S), Shiromani Akali Dal, Shiv Sena and JMM supporting her, Murmu’s vote share is likely to reach nearly 60 percent.
If elected, she will become the first woman from the tribal community to occupy the top constitutional post, it said.
On the other hand, Yashwant Sinha has the backing of the Congress, NCP, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, RJD, CPI, CPI(M), TRS, DMK, AIMIM, National Conference, RLD and a few other smaller parties.
(Inputs from India Today)
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