Seventh largest country by area and inhabitant of 1.2 billion people, India-the largest democracy on earth has started counting votes for its head of state- the president elections held on July 19- 3 days back. The election which elects President from the members of both House of parliament and legislative assemblies of the States, has two candidates- former finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and Former Chief Minister of Meghalaya Purno Sangama. Ruling Coalition UPA backed Pranab Mukherjee is already seen as the next president who is going to replace Pratibha Patel- the first female president of India.
Counting of ballots began amidst tight security in Parliament House here in the presence of authorised representatives of both Mukherjee and Sangma. The ballot boxes of votes cast in Parliament House were taken up first for counting after which those from the states will be opened. Authorised representatives inspected the seals of the ballot boxes and the counting began after ascertaining that they were not tampered with.
As many as 95 per cent of the 4,896 electors -- 776 MPs and 4,120 MLAs -- had exercised their franchise on Thursday at the polling centres set up in Parliament House and 30 other states and Union territories with assemblies.
The indirect election of President from the electoral representatives is set to give a new Head of State within two hours time as the vote counting is going on and till now Pranab Mukherjee is leading. A total of 748 MPs voted in the election on July 19. Of the total votes, Mukherjee got 527 votes while Sangma got 206. Fifteen votes including that of SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav were invalid.
Counting of ballots began amidst tight security in Parliament House here in the presence of authorised representatives of both Mukherjee and Sangma. The ballot boxes of votes cast in Parliament House were taken up first for counting after which those from the states will be opened. Authorised representatives inspected the seals of the ballot boxes and the counting began after ascertaining that they were not tampered with.
As many as 95 per cent of the 4,896 electors -- 776 MPs and 4,120 MLAs -- had exercised their franchise on Thursday at the polling centres set up in Parliament House and 30 other states and Union territories with assemblies.
The indirect election of President from the electoral representatives is set to give a new Head of State within two hours time as the vote counting is going on and till now Pranab Mukherjee is leading. A total of 748 MPs voted in the election on July 19. Of the total votes, Mukherjee got 527 votes while Sangma got 206. Fifteen votes including that of SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav were invalid.
