Indian Presidential Election - Mulayam Singh's vote will not count

Indian Elections are very massive affair – with crores of people electing their leaders, it is never easy.  Many crores are illiterate and depend on symbols to dish our their preferences of ‘who should rule them’ – still the elections happen in orderly manner.

The Presidential Election is ‘indirect one’ – only the esteemed legislators – the MLAs, and MPs are entitled to vote. They are the seasoned people elected by illiterate masses; they are the ruling community entitled to various benefits and who know how to administer. So when I read the news of the legislators being taught on how to vote, it sounded queer. I have been proved wrong again !!

The ballot has been cast in the presidential elections, with the numbers heavily tilting in favour of UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee against former Lok Sabha speaker P A Sangma. The results of the elections will be announced on Sunday and so from 22^nd July 2012, in all probability Mr Pranab Mukherjee will officially be the President of the Nation.  

Mulayam Singh Yadav  has been a seasoned politician whom even his opponents dread.   He was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh three times from (1989–1991; 1993–1995; 2003–2007). He also served as Minister of Defense(1996–1998) in the United Front government. – a man in Politics far too long.  The SP Chief was amongst the early ones to staunchly support Mukherjee.  He was there when Mr Mukherjee filed his nomination papers and was even seen holding hands with senior Congress minister AK Antony. Later, when Mr Mukherjee reached Lucknow to campaign, he was given a red carpet welcome by the Samajwadi Party government that Mr Yadav's son, Akhilesh, heads. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister hosted Mr Mukherjee to a lavish lunch; Mr Yadav was present too.

And……… when his turn to vote came, he first voted for the opposition candidate PA Sangma, then tore the ballot paper, sought a fresh one to vote for Pranab……  this may not change the fortune of Pranab da………………….. but still the  Election Commission today rejected Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav's vote in the Presidential poll and directed the Returning Officer (RO) not to count it as the secrecy of the ballot had been violated.  "The issue of second ballot paper to Mulayam Singh Yadav was not warranted under rule 15 of the Presidential and Vice- Presidential Elections Rules, 1974. Therefore, the second ballot paper issued to Yadav may not be taken up for counting," the Commission said.

The poll panel also directed the RO that the first ballot paper issued to Yadav cannot be counted as its secrecy was violated. Sangma's authorised representative Satya Pal Jain had filed a written complaint with the RO contending Yadav was not entitled to second ballot paper under the law. Agnihotri had later written to the EC on the issue alongwith Jain's complaint.  That way a victory for Sangma’s camp.

Sad that we have legislators who do not know how to exercise their franchise. !!

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.