New Delhi, July 20 (IBNS): The Election Commission (EC) of India on Friday rejected the ballot of Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav cast during the Presidential poll on Thursday.
The Election Commission ordered the Returning Officer (RO) not to count Yadav's vote as the secrecy of the ballot was violated.
Yadav reportedly voted in favour of BJP-backed candidate PA Sangma by mistake on Thursday but later corrected it by voting a second time.
Yadav was allowed to cast his vote again after he realized his mistake.
However, the EC said second ballot paper that was given to the SP chief will not be counted.
According to reports, it also ordered the RO that the first ballot paper that was issued to Yadav should not be counted as well, as the secrecy was violated.
Pertinently, the SP is supporting United Progressive Alliance (UPA's candidate Pranab Mukherjee for the titular post.
Earlier, Sangma's election agent Satya Pal Jain made a written complaint to the RO, objecting to granting of the second ballot paper to Yadav, after he reportedly tore the first one realizing the mistake.
Jain said in his complaint that Yadav was not entitled to get another ballot paper under the law.
Lawmakers cast their ballots in the Parliament and in state assemblies to elect the next President of the country as voting for the titular post was held on Thursday.
Mukherjee, the nominee backed by India’s Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has been tipped to have an advantage in the numbers with all the member parties of the ruling coalition parties and others like the SP and the Left supporting him.
UPA leaders have repeatedly claimed a runaway victory for Mukherjee, who has acted as the chief political fixer for the Congress-led coalition for years, saying that he is expected to get around 65 percent of the vote value.
The votes will be counted on Sunday and the result is expected to be declared by the evening.
