President Election
Droupadi Murmu vs Yashwant Sinha: Legislators to vote to elect India's 15th President today
New Delhi: More than 4,000 legislators will vote to elect the new President of India on Monday as National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu and Opposition’s joint pick Yashwant Sinha are contesting to win the prestige battle.
A day ahead of Presidential polls, Draupadi Murmu said there is excitement among women and tribal communities over her nomination for the President, while Opposition's candidate Yashwant Sinha once again appealed to all to vote according to conscience.
On Sunday evening, MPs of ruling BJP and allies met here, and had a mock voting practice for the polls.
NDA's Presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu also attended the meeting, and thanked all for the support.
Those supporting Murmu, include BJP, its ally JDU and Apna Dal, among others.
Biju Janata Dal, which is not a part of NDA, announced its support for Murmu soon after her nomination.
SAD, YSRCP, TDP, AIDMK as well as several MPs from Shiv Sena, are among those supporting her.
JMM, which was a part of the Opposition group that picked Yashwant Sinha as it's candidate, also announced support for Murmu, who has served as a former governor of Jharkhand.
LJP MP Chirag Paswan was also present at the meeting.
He said he was supporting Murmu in the Presidential polls, but it does not mean he is a part of NDA.
Meanwhile, Sinha, a former BJP leader and former Union minister, made a final appeal to all political parties to vote for him in tomorrow's election.
"I stand for protecting secularism, a preambular pillar of our Constitution. My rival candidate belongs to a party that has made no secret of its resolve to destroy this pillar and establish majoritarian supremacy," Sinha said.
"I stand for encouraging politics of consensus and co-operation. My rival candidate is backed by a party that practices politics of conflict and confrontation," he said.
Nearly 4,800 elected MPs and MLAs will vote on Monday to elect the 15th President of India.
Murmu has a clear edge over Sinha as over 60 per cent votes are expected to be cast in her favour, as per the strength of the parties that have extended support to her.
Presidential polls will be held on July 18. Counting will be taken up on July 21.
The term of office of President Ram Nath Kovind will end on July 24.
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