Fear of cross voting for BJP in Presidential election: Shah-Nadda will make strategy for coordination with 14 senior leaders; Special focus on Bengal-Bihar

Before the presidential election, the BJP is facing the fear of cross voting in many states, to prevent which the party will formulate a strategy with 14 senior leaders on Sunday. In the meeting, the leaders can be given the responsibility of coordination in the states. Members of the election management including President JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah will be present in the meeting.

BJP does not have majority to choose President
This time the total vote value in the President’s election is about 10 lakh 98 thousand and to elect the President, about 5 lakh 49 thousand votes are needed. The BJP-led alliance has only 5 lakh 45 thousand votes. However, the party is constantly in touch with regional parties to garner a majority. In such a situation, if cross voting takes place within the party, then it will not be easy to ensure victory.

Biggest danger in Bengal, fear in Rajasthan-Bihar too
The Bengal BJP has seen the most turmoil in the last few months. In one year, 7 MLAs and 2 MPs have left the party. Recently, in a rally in Haldia, Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee had claimed that many BJP leaders are ready to join. If Trinamool sources are to be believed, the leaders who quit the BJP can prove their loyalty to Mamata Banerjee by cross-voting in the presidential election. Mamta is constantly trying to field a common opposition candidate.

Here, the party has become alert after cross voting in the Rajya Sabha elections in Rajasthan. Despite the whip being issued in Rajasthan, BJP MLA Shobharani Kushwaha did cross voting at the last moment. In such a situation, the BJP has become alert regarding the presidential election. At the same time, the attitude of ally JDU in Bihar has also become a matter of concern for the BJP. If JD(U) does not announce its support, cross-voting can happen there too.

Whip is not issued for MLA-MPs in elections
In the presidential election, MLAs and MPs (except the nominated ones) cast their votes. In this, whip is not issued to the members, due to which there is a danger of cross voting for political parties. In the 2017 elections, there was fierce cross-voting in many states in support of Ramnath Kovind.

This is how voting happens in the presidential election