- Title: INDIA: Singh, Gandhi among early voters in Indian Presidential election
- Date: 19th July 2012
- Summary: NEW DELHI, INDIA (JULY 19, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) EXTERIOR OF INDIAN PARLIAMENT ARMED GUARD STANDING OUTSIDE THE PARLIAMENT INDIA'S PRIME MINISTER, MANMOHAN SINGH ARRIVING AT THE POLLING STATION SINGH CASTING HIS VOTE CHIEF OF INDIA'S RULING CONGRESS PARTY, SONIA GANDHI CASTING HER BALLOT (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) INDIA'S FORMER FINANCE MINISTER AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE PRANAB MUKHERJEE CASTING HIS VOTE AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT, INDIA (JULY 19, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) LEGISLATORS FROM INDIA'S WESTERN GUJARAT STATE CASTING THEIR VOTES FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL POLLS CHIEF OF INDIA'S WESTERN GUJARAT STATE, NARENDRA MODI VOTING LEGISLATORS STANDING IN A QUEUE TO CAST THEIR VOTES A LEGISLATOR CASTING HIS VOTE LEGISLATORS WAITING FOR THEIR TURN LEGISLATORS CASTING THEIR VOTES A WOMAN LEGISLATOR CASTING HER VOTE KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (JULY 19, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) LEGISLATOR ENTERING A POLLING STATION IN EASTERN KOLKATA CITY LEGISLATORS STANDING IN A QUEUE TO CAST THEIR VOTES A LEGISLATOR COMING OUT OF HIS CAR AND ENTERING THE POLLING STATION (SOUNDBITE) (English) LEGISLATOR AND SON OF INDIA'S PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OF CONGRESS PARTY, PRANAB MUKHERJEE, ABHIJIT MUKHERJEE, SAYING: "First time may be in Indian history, the presidential candidate himself is a voter form Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament) and his direct descendent son is also a voter form one of the assemblies. This may be the first time in the history of Indian presidential elections, the first time. It is a great feeling." ABIJIT MUKHERJEE POSING FOR A PHOTOGRAPH ABHIJIT MUKHERJEE ENTERING THE POLLING BOOTH MUKHERJEE POSING FOR A PHOTOGRAPH IMPHAL, MANIPUR, INDIA (JULY 19, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) EXTERIOR OF THE INDIA'S NORTHEASTERN MANIPUR STATE ASSEMBLY DOME OF THE BUILDING OF THE ASSEMBLY ENTRANCE OF THE POLLING STATION SIGNBOARD READING 'POLLING STATION FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2012' POLLING STATION
- Embargoed: 4th August 2012 02:09
- Keywords:
- Location: India
- Country: India
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA1LKTDIB43SW23RWN141Z2VLJ4
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Indian lawmakers voted for a new president on Thursday (July 19), ending weeks of wrangling and opening a much-hyped political window billed as the best chance for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to launch a wave of reforms and reverse an economic slowdown.
Singh and Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi were among the early voters to cast their votes at the Parliament House.
Elected legislators across various state assemblies lined up from the early morning to elect the country's 13th President - a two-way race between United Progressive Alliance nominee Pranab Mukherjee and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party-backed candidate Purno Agitok Sangma.
Mukherjee's strength signals a political victory for his Congress party after a string of reverses in state polls earlier this year, and could provide the bedrock for the ruling coalition to at least start its reform program.
The government has indicated the period between the election and the start of parliament's monsoon session on August 8 is a good time to implement rules allowing foreign investment in supermarkets -- a policy Singh introduced last year but quickly abandoned after protests in parliament and on the street.
Several state leaders including Narendra Modi, chief minister of the western Gujarat state were among the those to cast their vote in an election.
Mukherjee's son, Abhijit Mukherjee, in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata was beaming with joy at the prospect of voting for his own father.
"First time may be in Indian history, the presidential candidate himself is a voter from Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament) and his direct descendent son is also a voter form one of the assemblies. This may be the first time in the history of Indian presidential elections, the first time. It is a great feeling," he said.
The president is elected by 4,896 lawmakers in state assemblies and the national parliament in Delhi and results will be announced on Sunday (July 22). - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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