Fate for Top Seat at Raisina Hills sealed: 99.18 per cent votes polled at Parlt. House

New Delhi: The election for the 15th President of India was held across the country on Monday, with 721 MPs and nine MLAs voting at the Parliament House in Delhi, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and other prominent leaders.
A part of the first floor of Parliament was cordoned and Room no 63 in the Parliament House was converted into a polling center for the electors. A red carpet was laid out for the electors, and part of the iconic Parliament building’s first floor, with its iconic red sandstone pillars, was covered with a white curtain, as the area was sanitized for voting.
Huge posters showcasing the historic Rashtrapati Bhawan were also put out outside the room where the voting took place.
The voting started at 10 a.m. on Monday, and MPs could be seen beelining to cast their votes, despite long queues.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to cast his vote shortly after the polling started. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh also arrived within the first hour of the voting, even as he arrived in a wheelchair. Singh and Modi were among 350 electors who exercised their franchise within the first 1.5 hours of the presidential ballot.

Four officers helped Manmohan Singh, 89, stand up from his wheelchair and drop the paper in the secret ballot box.
Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav also arrived at the venue in a wheelchair, owing to poor health.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi also cast their votes later in the day.
Rajya Sabha Secretary General and Chief Returning Officer for the Presidential polls, PC Mody said out of 736 electors comprising 727 Members of Parliament (MPs) and nine Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) who were permitted by ECI to vote at Parliament House, New Delhi, 730 electors – 721 MPs and nine MLAs cast their vote before closure of poll.
“The total elector turnout at Parliament House was 99.18 percent,” he said.

Voting concluded on Monday with over 99 per cent of 4,796 eligible electors, including 771 MPs and 4,025 MLAs, taking part in the process. With President Ram Nath Kovind’s tenure ending on July 25, the polling to elect the new President was held at 31 locations including the Parliament House and various state Assemblies across the country between 10 am to 5 pm
The numbers appear to be in favour of Murmu, with over 60 per cent of votes belonging to the parties that have supported her candidature.
Ballots from different states will now arrive in New Delhi, and will be taken to Parliament House, where counting will take place on July 21.
The term of President Ram Nath Kovind ends on July 24. (UNI)