Congress not to exercise second preference vote

Even though President APJ Abdul Kalam on Friday opted out of the presidential race, putting an end to the possibility of a triangular contest...

Even though President APJ Abdul Kalam on Friday opted out of the presidential race, putting an end to the possibility of a triangular contest, the Congress decided to play it safe and asked its legislators not to exercise the option of second preferential vote at all.

A triangular contest could have put a premium on second preferential vote as it would have proved to be crucial in case the election was to go into the second round. Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, tipped to be the NDA8217;s nominee in the Presidential election, was likely to get most of the second preferential vote, especially from the constituents of the United National Progressive Alliance.

At a meeting of AICC general secretaries, Congress Legislature Party leaders including Chief Ministers and election observers here on Friday, AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi asked all to ensure that the legislators voted for UPA nominee Pratibha Patil only without exercising the option of second or third preferential vote.

According to Congress sources, many a Congress legislator could also vote for Shekhawat as second preference. 8220;Even though it is now a direct contest between Patil and Shekhawat that would render the second preferential vote almost useless, we cannot take any chances,8221; they said.

CLP leaders were asked to ensure that the MLAs stayed put in the respective state capitals two days before the election on July 19 and don8217;t move out. Similarly, MPs will have to remain stationed in New Delhi from July 17.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi on Friday hinted that the UPA campaign managers, who are said to be in touch with NDA constituents like the JDU and a section of the SP, were expecting cross-voting in favour of Patil.

8220;We have 5,97,000 votes. It will increase by 50 per cent,8221; he told reporters after obtaining LJP chief Ramvilas Paswan8217;s signature as a proposer on Patil8217;s nomination papers at the latter8217;s official residence. Criticising the opposition for not supporting Patil8217;s candidature, Paswan said, 8220;There have been 70 Presidents of the USA from Washington to Bush but you don8217;t see a single woman in that list. It is very fortunate that we are going to have the first woman President of India.8221;