Presidential election- Cong seeks explanation from MLA Bhandari for abstaining from voting
Tuesday, 26 July 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
The Uttarakhand Congress has sought an explanation from Badrinath MLA Rajendra Singh Bhandari for his absence from voting in the election of President of India. The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Karan Mahara disclosed on Monday that the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Yashpal Arya has written a letter to Bhandari in which he has asked Bhandari to explain the reason for his absence from voting for election of President. He said that everyone knows that the Congress MLA from Kichha Tilak Raj Behed is very ill and he was not in a position to come to Dehradun to participate in voting. Meanwhile it was speculated on Monday that actually two and not one as was earlier thought had violated the party’s decision and engaged in cross voting.
In the Presidential election the NDA candidate Draupadi Murmu secured 51 votes while the candidate of opposition Yashwant Sinha got only 15 votes from Uttarakhand. In the 70 member state assembly, the BJP has 47 MLAs, the Congress 19, BSP two and there are two independents. The BSP and independents had declared their support for Murmu. Three members (Congress party’s Behed and Bhandari and BJP’s Chandan Ram Das) abstained from voting while one vote was found invalid. The results clearly showed that at least one MLA of Congress cross voted in favour of Murmu and speculations are rife about this black sheep. When asked to comment on cross voting, Mahara said that it is very difficult to find out the black sheep in the flock because the system of secret ballot is used and whip is not issued. He however added that those engaged in the cross voting should have the guts to come out in the open and accept that they have violated the party line.
