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Guwahati, Jun 18: Polling for the presidential election is underway in Assam with over 50 per cent of the 126 MLAs having cast their votes. Legislators of both the ruling NDA and Opposition Congress and AIUDF were seen queuing in the assembly before voting began at 10 AM.
Nearly 50 per cent of the legislators, including several ministers such as Ranoj Pegu, Ajanta Neog, Pijush Hazarika, and Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia have already cast their votes, an official said.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was, however, yet to exercise his franchise.
AIUDF MLAs came in a group to cast their votes, but two of their 15 legislators will not exercise their franchise as they are away in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj.
Party supremo Badruddin Ajmal had earlier announced that AIUDF will vote in favour of NDA presidential nominee Droupadi Murmu, but a day before the election, changed the decision and said its lawmakers would vote for Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha.
Several BJP MLAs had visited Ajmal's residence on Sunday requesting him to again change the decision and vote for Murmu.
Reacting to this, party MLA Aminul Islam said on Monday, "BJP has double standards. On one hand, it says it does not have anything to do with AIUDF, and on the other, it does not hesitate to shamelessly ask for our votes."
Education Minister Ranoj Pegu said Murmu's victory is a foregone conclusion and it will be better if all members vote for her.An Assam MLA's vote is valued at 116 with the total value being at 14,616. The ruling NDA has 79 MLAs, while three BPF members who support the alliance but have not formally joined it are also likely to vote for Murmu.
Congress has 27 MLAs but three of them have been suspended due to anti-party activities and they have not made it clear in whose favour they will vote. A CPI (M) and Independent member have pledged their support to Sinha.
Congress MLA Bharat Chandra Narah, currently undergoing treatment at New Delhi, has sought permission to exercise his franchise at the Parliament.
Assam has a total of 21 MPs, 14 in the Lok Sabha and seven in the Rajya Sabha, and the total value of the votes is 14,700.
The ruling NDA has a total of 15 MPs, with BJP having 13 and its allies AGP and UPPL one each, while one Independent is also likely to vote in favour of Murmu. Opposition Congress has three MPs, the AIUDF one and another Independent who has pledged his support to Sinha.