Pranab will get votes of 60 MLAs : Ibobi

IMPHAL, Jul 19 : Chief Minister O. Ibobi made his overstatement "Pranab Mukherjee will get votes of all the 60 MLAs of Manipur" to media today.

Chief Minister O Ibobi, Speaker Th Lokeshore,
Home Minister Gaikhangam are seen at the Assembly

All the sixty Members of State Legislative Assembly voted to elect India's new President. The poll was held in Assembly Committee Room with tight security. Voting was done inside the polling station opened at the room from 10 am to 5 pm.

It was Chief Minister O Ibobi who voted first followed by Speaker Th Lokeshore. Though the period of voting was till 5 pm, all the MLAs had cast their votes by 1 pm.

Notably, the presidential election is a straight fight between BJP backed PA Sangma and UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee.

While NCP Youth president Roshan Meisnam donned the role of election agent for PA Sangma, TN Haokip and I Hemochandra acted as election agents on behalf of Pranab Mukherjee.

Talking to media persons on the presidential election, Chief Minister O Ibobi confided that all the 60 MLAs would have voted for Pranab Mukherjee and he would certainly win the election.

He claimed that Pranab would get votes from the Trinamool Congress, MSCP and NPF.

Opposition Member Dr Ibohalbi said that his party supported the UPA candidate. There was a strong instruction from the party high command in this regard.

On being enquired why PA Sangma was not supported given his origin in the North East region, Ibohalbi said that the decision was taken by the party high command.

NPF too supported the UPA candidate, said its MLA Samuel Raisom.

The three MPs of the State cast their votes at New Delhi. The total vote value of the State for the presidential election is 3204.

After the voting was over, the ballot box was sealed and it was deposited in the strong room of the Assembly.

The ballot box would be taken to New Delhi tomorrow morning by Assembly Secretary and Assistant Returning Officer Y Indira.

Votes would be counted at New Delhi on July 22.

Claiming that all the 60 MLAs of Manipur voted in favour of UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee for the post of President, MPCC president Gaikhangam has conveyed gratitude to all the MLAs.

Speaking to media persons at Congress Bhavan this afternoon, Gaikhangam said that the three MPs of Manipur––Rishang Keishing, Thangso Baite and Dr T Meinya voted at New Delhi.

Voting by all the 60 MLAs in favour of a particular presidential candidate is a historic and landmark event, Gaikhangam asserted.

The present Manipur Legislative Assembly has 42 Congress Members, seven AITC Members, five MSCP Members, four NPF Members, one each of NCP and LJP. Informing that Chief Minister O Ibobi held a meeting with MLAs of different political parties yesterday and requested them to vote in favour of the UPA candidate, Gaikhangam said that it is an honour for Congress party that the MLAs agreed to the CM's request.