Derek O'Brien becomes first Anglo-Indian to vote in Prez poll

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O' Brien today perhaps became the first Anglo-Indian to vote in the Presidential poll as members of his community are mostly nominated to Parliament and Assemblies and have no right to participate in balloting for the top Constitutional post.

Lok Sabha, the House of 545 members, has two nominated members from Anglo-Indian community. Some state Assemblies also have provisions for nominated members from the community.

Nominated members of Rajya Sabha as well as Lok Sabha are not eligible to vote for electing the President, the electoral college for which comprises MPs, MLAs and MLCs.

O'Brien could vote as he is not a nominated member and has been elected to the Rajya Sabha from West Bengal.

He cast his ballot in Kolkata along with other Trinamool MPs of the state as they have made a special request to do so instead of in Delhi.

There are 12 nominated members, including cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, in Rajya Sabha who could not vote in today's voting.