Prez poll: Odisha Congress’s Mohammed Moqueem defies party decision, votes for NDA’s Droupadi Murmu
India Today
Defying the party’s decision to back the Opposition’s choice, Yashwant Sinha, Odhisha Congress MLA Mohammed Moqueem voted for NDA’s candidate Droupadi Murmu during the presidential election.
In a major setback for Congress, its Barabati Cuttack MLA Mohammed Moqueem voted for NDA’s candidate Droupadi Murmu during the presidential election, defying the party unit’s decision to back the Opposition’s choice, Yashwant Sinha.
The voting for electing the new President of India began on Monday inside the Odisha Assembly premises. Chief minister Naveen Pattnaik was among the early ones to arrive. He cast his vote at 10:15 am, as soon as the polling began at 10:00 am.
Also read: Odisha’s BJD to back Jagdeep Dhankhar, NDA’s vice presidential choice
While the ruling BJD in Odisha is supporting NDA nominee Droupadi Murmu, who is contesting against Yashwant Sinha, supported by the opposition parties.
Talking to India Today, Mohammed Moqueem said, “There was no such whip conveyed to us to vote for any candidate. It was the first time that any adivasi woman from Odisha was fielded as a candidate, so I voted her.”
“I chose the daughter of the soil for the country’s topmost constitutional post,” Moqueem said.
On whether he was upset about not being appointed as PCC chief of the state, Moqueem reiterated, “That is a different topic. I will discuss that issue in the party forum. I have been receiving calls from people from different walks of life to support Odisha’s Draupadi Murmu.
