India is all set to get its 14th President today as the counting of ballots for the presidential election began at 11 AM. The results for the race to the Rashtrapati Bhavan will be out officially by 5 PM. Lok Sabha Secretary General Anoop Mishra told DH said that “Ballot boxes, collected from all states across India, has been kept in a strong room inside the House. Each ballot box traveled as a business class passenger.” He said special vehicles drove up to the tarmac to ferry the ballot boxes and accompanying officials directly to Parliament House.
A total of 4,896 voters — 4,120 MLAs and 776 elected MPs — were eligible to cast their ballot. MLCs of states with the legislative council are not part of the electoral college. As Per Reports 99% voting was recorded for India next presidential election. Voting was held in 32 polling stations — one in Parliament House Room No 62 and rest one each in state legislative assemblies.
The numbers seem to be stacked in favor of NDA’s nominee Ram Nath Kovind over Meira Kumar, the opposition’s candidate. President Pranab Mukherjee’s term is set to expire on July 25. In the last presidential election in 2012, Pranab Mukherjee had defeated PA Sangma and got over 69 per cent votes.
Presidential Elections Live:
2.36 PM: Ram Nath Kovind gets 1,389 votes with a value of 4,79,585; Meira Kumar gets 576 votes with a value of 2,04,594 after counting in Parliament House and 11 states.
11.11 AM: Counting has begun on four tables at Room Number 62 in the Parliament House. Counting will be done in eight rounds.
11:05 AM: Counting begins: Suresh Angadi, Ganesh Singh & Gajendra Shekhawat are counting agents of BJP.
11:00 am: Counting of Presidential elections: 4 tables 8 rounds counting.
10:40 am: Counting to begin in 3 minutes. Updates will be given every 2 hours. First, update on counting at 1 pm.
10:20 am: Meanwhile, in Kolkata on Wednesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had thanked all Opposition parties for coming together to support Meira Kumar.
10.05 am: Despite frequent disruptions on Day 3 of the Parliament Monsoon Session, the House debated on mob lynchings and agrarian crisis. We hope Day 4 will be more smooth with rains bringing down the temperatures in Delhi NCR.