All but one of the 147 MlAs of Odisha cast their votes in the State Assembly on Monday to elect the 14th President of India. The voting process began at 10 am and continued till 5 pm.
Subal Sahu of the Congress could not exercise his franchise due to indisposition.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, other Ministers, leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra and Rajya Sabha member (Independent) AV Swamy exercised their franchise.
Narasingha Mishra was the first to cast his vote followed by Deputy leader of the Congress legislature Party Chiranjib Biswal and other Congress MlAs. The Congress members voted for UPA candidate Meira Kumar, said Mishra.
Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout said he voted for Kovind as the BJD has extended its support to the NDA nominee.
The Chief Minister said on Facebook, “It was a pleasure participating in the democratic process of the Presidential election. I wish the next President of our country every success and an accomplished tenure in safeguarding the Constitutional values for the people of the nation.”
After the voting, the ballot boxes were flown to New Delhi to be stored in Parliament. The votes would be counted and results would be announced on July 20.