Prez polls: CM Pinarayi, Kerala legislators cast votes
- CM Pinarayi Vijayan and his cabinet colleagues exercised their vote at the state assembly, along with other legislators
- Former chief ministers VS Achuthanandan and Oommen Chandy were among prominent MLAs to cast their votes
- From Kerala, NDA nominee Ram Nath Kovind is only expected to secure the vote of the lone BJP MLA O Rajagopal
FollowKerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and other legislators from the state cast their vote in the presidential election in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday.Â
Pinarayi and his cabinet colleagues exercised their vote at the state assembly, along with other legislators. Former chief ministers VS Achuthanandan and Oommen Chandy were among prominent MLAs to cast their votes, assembly officials said. The lone BJP MLA, O Rajagopal, was among the early voters, according to PTI.Â
In the 140-member assembly, Vengara seat is vacant after incumbent MLA P K Kunhalikutty resigned after his election to the Lok Sabha from Malappuram Lok Sabha seat that fell vacant following the death of IUML leader E Ahmed.Â
From Kerala, NDA nominee Ram Nath Kovind is only expected to secure the vote of only Rajagopal. The ruling CPM-led LDF and the Congress-headed UDF had announced their decision to back the united opposition candidate and former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.Â
Kerala Congress(M), led by former Finance minister K M Mani, which had snapped ties with the UDF, also extended its support to Kumar. Similarly, the lone independent MLA P C George had also announced his backing to Kumar.Â
The value of one vote from Kerala is 152. The lawmakers from Kerala in Parliament -Â 20 in the Lok Sabha and nine in the Rajya Sabha - will all cast their votes in Delhi. Parakal Abdullah of the IUML has sought permission to cast his vote in Chennai, as he is there.
