<p>As India’s law-makers voted to elect the 17th President in an ideological battle involving BJP-led NDA’s Droupadi Murmu and United Opposition’s Yashwant Sinha, fears of cross-voting looms large in Maharashtra.</p>.<p>This has made the Opposition, particularly the Congress red-faced. </p>.<p>The ruling Eknath Shinde-faction of Shiv Sena and BJP has targeted votes from 200-plus legislators from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, there are fears of cross-voting by NCP-Congress MLAs. </p>.<p>The electoral college from Maharashtra comprises 288 seats, however, the current strength now is 287. </p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/meditation-prayers-and-puja-at-rairangpur-as-voting-begins-to-elect-president-1127767.html" target="_blank">Meditation, prayers and puja at Rairangpur as voting begins to elect president</a></strong></p>.<p>Since the Presidential polls involves a secret ballot the BJP is leaving no stones unturned to apply the tactics 10 June Rajya Sabha polls and 20 June Council election - when there was cross-voting in the state with BJP winning all the seats it contested. </p>.<p>“More than 200 MLAs would vote for Droupadi Murmu,” Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said while the voting process was underway. </p>.<p>“We will see a repeat of what happened in the Rajya Sabha and Council polls,” state BJP President Chandrakant Patil said. </p>.<p>It may be mentioned, the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government won the trust vote 164-99.</p>.<p>The new government has 106 MLAs from BJP, 40 from Shiv Sena and 10 independents and members of smaller parties. </p>.<p>After this, the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction - which has 15 members - extended support to Murmu. </p>.<p>During the trust vote, 11 Congress MLAs were absent and this is a matter of probe by the AICC plus the cross-voting in Council elections. </p>.<p>While the Sharad Pawar-led NCP remains intact, there is vulnerability from the Congress side. </p>.<p>Congress legislature party leader Balasaheb Thorat said that all the party MLAs would vote for Sinha.</p>
<p>As India’s law-makers voted to elect the 17th President in an ideological battle involving BJP-led NDA’s Droupadi Murmu and United Opposition’s Yashwant Sinha, fears of cross-voting looms large in Maharashtra.</p>.<p>This has made the Opposition, particularly the Congress red-faced. </p>.<p>The ruling Eknath Shinde-faction of Shiv Sena and BJP has targeted votes from 200-plus legislators from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, there are fears of cross-voting by NCP-Congress MLAs. </p>.<p>The electoral college from Maharashtra comprises 288 seats, however, the current strength now is 287. </p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/meditation-prayers-and-puja-at-rairangpur-as-voting-begins-to-elect-president-1127767.html" target="_blank">Meditation, prayers and puja at Rairangpur as voting begins to elect president</a></strong></p>.<p>Since the Presidential polls involves a secret ballot the BJP is leaving no stones unturned to apply the tactics 10 June Rajya Sabha polls and 20 June Council election - when there was cross-voting in the state with BJP winning all the seats it contested. </p>.<p>“More than 200 MLAs would vote for Droupadi Murmu,” Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said while the voting process was underway. </p>.<p>“We will see a repeat of what happened in the Rajya Sabha and Council polls,” state BJP President Chandrakant Patil said. </p>.<p>It may be mentioned, the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government won the trust vote 164-99.</p>.<p>The new government has 106 MLAs from BJP, 40 from Shiv Sena and 10 independents and members of smaller parties. </p>.<p>After this, the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction - which has 15 members - extended support to Murmu. </p>.<p>During the trust vote, 11 Congress MLAs were absent and this is a matter of probe by the AICC plus the cross-voting in Council elections. </p>.<p>While the Sharad Pawar-led NCP remains intact, there is vulnerability from the Congress side. </p>.<p>Congress legislature party leader Balasaheb Thorat said that all the party MLAs would vote for Sinha.</p>
