After the NDA Vice-Presidential candidate Venkaiah Naidu polled as many as 519 votes, the Congress suspects that some Odisha and Bihar MPs might have indulged in cross-voting.
leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra said the number of extra votes for Naidu proves that there was cross-voting. He blamed the Chief Ministers of Bihar and Odisha for it.
He further stated, “I am skeptical about the Odisha Chief Minister’s possible actions. Besides, infighting exists among BJD MPs.”
Minister and BJD vice-president Damodar Rout speaking to reporters hinted about cross-voting and said the MPs who ignored their party’s directive and voted for Naidu did not do so for their conscience but for money. They cannot be termed as politicians.
Rout further said he is not sure whether cross-voting happened and members of which party were involved if it happened, but if the BJP has given money to MPs, it is unethical.
BJP’s Odisha in-charge Arun Singh said, “If Venkaiah Naidu has got 516 votes, he might have got votes from MPs other than the NDA fold. However, I have no details as the poll process was a confidential one.”