Time to celebrate: BJP supporters celebrating the victory of Ram Nath Kovind in the Presidential election in Puducherry on Thursday. | Photo Credit: S_S_KUMAR more-in Minor fault lines within the Opposition has become evident with the results of the presidential election showing that President-elect Ram Nath Govind got two votes less than what should have come to his kitty. The voting pattern in the election reveals that an MLA from either the AINRC or the AIADMK had voted for Congress nominee Meira Kumar while another MLA cast an invalid vote. Ms. Kumar, who had the backing of only 18 members (15 Congress, 2 Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and one Independent), polled 19 votes. Mr. Kovind should have got 12 votes after AINRC with eight MLAs and AIADMK with four MLAs extended support but instead could gather only 10 votes. A few hours after the voting commenced on July 17, there were reports about an invalid vote. Instead of putting a numerical number, a member belonging to the Opposition had put a cross mark which, as per electoral guidelines, was against the prescribed rules. Buzz around AINRC Rumours were abuzz after AINRC member P. R.N. Thirumurugan appeared alone for voting while other six members came along with former Chief Minister and party chief N. Rangasamy to exercise their franchise. The AINRC’s internal differences were out in the open during the last Assembly session when party legislator T.P.R. Selvame took a different line in the house. He even refused to be part of a walkout over CENTAC admission row. Differences came out in the open during the visit of BJP president Amit Shah when three members — Mr. Thirumurugan, Mr. Selvame and Chandrapriyanga — refused to be part of the party delegation that called on Mr. Shah. Again, the same members abstained from a meeting with Mr. Kovind when he visited Chennai during the poll campaign giving more credence to reports of internal differences in AINRC. The disunity in the Opposition ranks would certainly be music to the ears of the ruling Congress, especially after reports surfaced about Mr. Shah’s directive to the party to try to cobble up a credible alternative. Though electoral arithmetic favoured the Congress, Mr. Shah’s visit was viewed by the ruling camp seriously given the track record of the BJP in forming governments across the States in India. The presidential election results would certainly put to rest any change in government at least for the time being. The BJP celebrated the victory of Mr. Kovind by distributing sweets. Cadre, led by party Puducherry unit president V. Saminathan, garlanded the statue of Dr. Ambedkar in front of the the Assembly complex. Greetings Mr. Rangasamy has extended greetings to Mr. Kovind. In a release, he also congratulated political parties that extended support to Mr. Kovind.

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