Cross-voting likely in Presidential Elections: Tara Bahinipati

Bhubaneswar: With differences clearly visible among several parties over NDA’s Presidential candidate, Congress Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati on Monday expressed apprehensions about ‘cross-voting’ by the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

As UPA backed candidate Meira Kumar is popular among the intellectual masses, MPs of several political parties including Shiv Sena, BJP and BJD may vote for her, said the Congress legislator.
The statements of Tara Prasad have not gone with other political parties in Odisha particularly the BJD and BJP who have ruled out any chances of cross-voting.

“There is a possibility of cross-voting by BJD and discussion is on among several MPs of the party to vote in favour of Meira Kumar,” said Tara Prasad Bahinipati.

Meanwhile, when asked about the apprehension of cross voting, BJD spokesperson Prashant Nanda said, “there is no chance of cross-vote by party leader.”

Nanda further took a jibe at the Congress and stated that it wants to sail through the Presidential polls with the help of cross-voting.

However, no such thing will happen and Tara Prasad Bahinipati’s hopes will not materialise, Nanda added.

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MLAs Tara Bahinipati, Bhujabal Majhi, Jogesh Singh, Chandrashekhar Majhi, Ansuman Mohanty, Jacob Pradhan visited Delhi today to discuss the ensuing President poll with the party High Command.

At a press conference, Odisha Pradesh Congress president Prasad Harichandan today criticised BJD for extending support to NDA’s candidate.

“BJD has extended support just after getting a call from the Prime Minister. Why can’t issues including Mahanadi and Special Category State Status also be resolved on phone,” said Prasad.

“Odisha Congress MLAs will cross vote which is evident from Tara Prasad Bahinipati's statements,” said BJP’s vice president Samir Mohanty.