Defying the party line, Congress MLA Mohammed Moquim voted in favour of NDA Presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu on Monday. And he himself disclosed it to the media.
The Cuttack-Barabati MLA said that being an Odia, he cast his vote for Murmu as she is a “daughter of the soil”. As whip is not applicable in the Presidential election, he voted as per the “dictates of my conscience”, he said.
Political observers said Moquim is a disgruntled leader in the Congress as the party command deprived him of the post of PCC president by appointing Sarat Pattanayak as the State Congress chief recently.
Commenting on Moquim’s cross-voting, PCC president Pattanayak said, “We have informed our high command (about this). Action will be taken as per the instruction of the AICC.”
Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra also said the party would take a final call on this matter.
Party MLA Santosh Singh Saluja said Moquim should have voted for the united Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan thanked Moquim for exercising his franchise in Murmu’s favour.