Cross-voting in 10 states bolsters Droupadi Murmu’s win, exposes fault lines in Opposition unity

With Droupadi Murmu winning the presidential polls with an overwhelming majority, it has become clear that Opposition MPs and MLAs defied party lines to cross-vote for the NDA candidate.

It was apparent right from the outset that Droupadi Murmu, the candidate fielded by the BJP-led NDA, would sweep the presidential election. The 64-year-old tribal leader had the backing of not just the ruling party and its allies, but non-NDA parties too.

Despite concerted efforts by Opposition parties to rally behind their nominee, Yashwant Sinha, fair-weather allies and proclaimed bosom buddies crossed over to back Murmu. True Opposition unity remained a distant dream.

Droupadi Murmu claimed a thumping victory over Sinha, securing 64 per cent of the votes polled in the election. With the numbers out for all to see, it has become increasingly clear that MPs and MLAs defied party lines to cross-vote for Murmu.

Apart from 126 MLAs, the winning NDA candidate also received votes from 17 non-NDA MPs.

Assam, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh assemblies witnessed a significant number of Opposition MLAs voting for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance's candidate.Around 22 MLAs in Assam and 20 in Madhya Pradesh assemblies are likely to have cross-voted. Six opposition MLAs each from Bihar and Chhattisgarh, four from Goa and 10 from Gujarat may also have voted for Murmu.

Soon after Droupadi Murmu was declared the winner, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma put out messages thanking Opposition MLAs who had voted “according to their conscience”.

Murmu's tribal background appeared to have drawn support from Congress MLAs in Jharkhand too, where the ruling JMM had already announced support to her.