Rediffmail Money rediffGURUS BusinessEmail

BJD to abstain from voting in vice-presidential poll

August 05, 2012 21:33 IST
Source:PTI

The ruling Biju Janata Dal in Odisha on Sunday announced that it would abstain from voting in the vice-presidential election scheduled to be held on August 7.

"After consultation with parliament members and senior leaders, the party has decided to abstain from voting in the vice-presidential elections," BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told the media in Bhubaneswar.

Maintaining its earlier stance to maintain equi-distance from both the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance and Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, Patnaik said his party MPs favoured not taking part in the election process.

The regional party which was first to name P A Sangma as its candidate for the presidential poll, has 21 MPs, 14 in Lok Sabha and seven in Rajya Sabha.

Though the BJD strongly backed Sangma by projecting him as a prominent tribal and minority leader, the regional outfit had delayed its decision with regard to the vice-presidential poll.

Source: PTI
© Copyright 2025 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.

More News Coverage

Biju Janata DalNaveen PatnaikUnited Progressive Alliance and Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic AllianceSangmaLok Sabha

RELATED STORIES

WEB STORIES

7 Compelling Reasons To Keep Your Love Life Private

The Chia Cure: 8 Reasons To Have Chia Seeds

The 12 Holy Jyotirlingas Of India

VIDEOS