Cross voting by Samajwadi Party MlA Shivpal Singh Yadav was the highlight of presidential polls in Uttar Pradesh in which 402 of the total 403 MlAs exercised their franchise till 5 pm on Monday evening.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was among the first to vote in the presidential polls at the Assembly premises on Monday and several BJP MlAs reached Tilak Hall - the venue of polling, before the process got started at 10 am. long queues of legislators could be seen at the venue of polling.
After casting his vote at around 10.15 am, Yogi said, “It’s a matter of pride for UP that a person from the state will take over as the President of India for the first time. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah for selecting Ramnath Kovind for the office of President.’’
Yogi is an MP from Gorakhpur and was yet to vacate the lok Sabha seat and get membership of the Assembly. Two other MPs, Union minister Uma Bharati and Deputy Chief Minister and state BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya, both MPs, also voted in lucknow. Uma Bharti is an MP from Jhansi and Maurya from Phoolpur.
In view of the recent recovery of explosive material from inside the Assembly hall, security agencies had thrown an unprecedented security ring in and around Assembly building and commandos were deployed at Tilak Hall.
The Election Commission had sent two poll observers from Delhi. Official said that barring one Samajwadi Party MlA Abrar Ahmed, all 402 MlAs cast their vote.