Prez poll today: Kovind has edge over Meira

New Delhi, Jul 17: Lawmakers across the country are set to choose the new President on Monday, in an election that has pitched NDA nominee Ram Nath Kovind against the joint Opposition candidate, Meira Kumar.

Kovind, a former governor of Bihar, has a clear edge in the election with support of 63% voters in the electoral college, which has a vote value of 10.98 lakh. The candidature of Meira, a former Lok Sabha Speaker, has been supported by 16 Opposition parties, including the Congress, Trinamool Congress, CPI(M), SP, BSP, DMK and JD(S).

Meira, who has been campaigning across state capitals, has described the Presidential contest as a “battle of ideologies”. “We all have the duty to preserve the importance of the Constitution of India. I would ensure equal justice to all and avoid discrimination based on caste, religion, sect, gender and region,” has been Kovind’s refrain on his campaign trail.

Don’t waste votes: PM

At the all-party meeting convened by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged leaders to reach out to MPs and MLAs of their respective parties to ensure that “not a single vote goes waste”.

“It would have been better had the Presidential election taken place through consensus. But it is satisfying to note that the campaign for the election has been carried out with dignity and grace. I congratulate all political parties for this,” Modi said at the meeting.

Elaborate arrangements have been made at the Parliament House here and state Assemblies across the country to enable Parliamentarians and Members of the Legislative Assemblies to cast their votes.

In a bid to ensure maximum polling, the Election Commission has allowed 14 Rajya Sabha members and 41 Lok Sabha members to exercise their franchise at a polling booth of their choice.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar – all Parliamentarians – and all but three Parliamentarians of the Trinamool Congress will cast their vote in their respective home states – Uttar Pradesh, Goa and West Bengal.

Besides the NDA constituents, who constitute 48% of the electoral college, Kovind has received support from the AIADMK, TRS, YSR Congress, BJD and JD(U). The BJP is also expecting an increase in the vote share due to cross-voting.