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Expelled BJP MLAs also to vote for Sangma

SANA ALTAF. Dated: 7/19/2012 12:35:21 AM

SRINAGAR, July 18: An interesting situation has emerged in the BJP camp in the state over the presidential elections
The party high command has made no contact with its seven expelled MLAs regarding the issue. However, they have on their own decided to vote for BJP supported candidate P A Sangma. The other (also known as official) group of four MLAs has been asked by the BJP leadership in union capital to vote for Sangma.
Talking to Kashmir Times, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, one of the expelled BJP members, said none of them were contacted by the party high command.
“No one contacted us. But we all have decided to support our party candidate Sangma,” he said.
Jagdish Sapolia, who is also amongst the expelled legislators, endorsed the statement of Prof Gupta saying their votes would go to Sangma.
Ashok Khajuria, part of the official BJP of four MLAs, said they received directions from BJP high command to vote for Sangma. “Our party leadership communicated to us as what to do,” he said.
It may be recalled here that BJP expelled its seven MLAs from party for allegedly voting for the candidates of National Conference and Congress during the elections for some vacant seats of legislative council.
The party had also written to speaker legislative assembly Mohammad Akbar Lone to disqualify the accused MLAs. However, the speaker did not give his verdict on the grounds that the matter is already being heard by the high court and that he does not want to influence the court with his decision.
Meanwhile, UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee is all set to get maximium votes from J&K with MLAs of National Conference, Congress, PDP, CPI(M) and other smaller parties voting for him. He was recently here in connection with his campaign during which he met leaders of various political parties.