Presidential election: Cross voting in Punjab, Haryana may upset Meira Kumar's chances
While senior AAP leader H S Phoolka has already said that he will not vote for Meira Kumar, MLAs close to him may also choose to follow suit.
In Short
- AAP leader H S Phoolka will not vote for Meira Kumar in Punjab
- MLAs close to Phoolka may choose to vote for Ram Nath Kovind
- In Haryana, factionalism in Congress may lead to cross-voting
Voting for presidential election is underway in Punjab and Haryana. While Ram Nath Kovind is almost assured of a win, Opposition candidate Meira Kumar may suffer from cross-voting in these two states.
In Punjab, senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Leader of Opposition in the Assembly H S Phoolka has categorically said that he will not vote for Congress-backed Meira Kumar as supporting her is tantamount to betraying the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
"I respect Meira Kumar ji but will not vote for her as she has been backed by the Congress which continues to shield perpetrators of anti-Sikh riots," Phoolka said.
Sources in the political corridors said that MLAs close to Phoolka may follow suit and vote against Meira Kumar and in favour of Ram Nath Kovind.
AAP leader and former chief whip of the party in Punjab Assembly Sukhpal Singh Khaira said that the party has decided to vote in favour of Meira Kumar in the presidential election.
"Phoolka alone has opposed Meira Kumar's candidature. Our party is supporting Meira Kumar and there will be no cross-voting," Khaira siad.
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had invited all Congress MLAs for a breakfast meet to ensure that everyone remains on the same page regarding presidential election.
Amarinder Singh, however, had confessed that the Congress was late in announcing Meira Kumar's candidature.
BJP MAY GAIN FROM INFIGHTING IN CONGRESS
Haryana, which is infamous for cross-voting, may yet again see some Congress MLAs voting in favour of Ram Nath Kovind.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has claimed to have garnered support of 75 MLAs from Haryana for NDA presidential nominee Kovind.
The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has already announced its support to Ram Nath Kovind.
The infighting between the Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Ashok Tanwar factions in the Congress may also result in cross-voting during the presidential election.
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