Date:20/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/20/stories/2007072055631200.htm

National

Cross-voting feared in Gujarat

Special Correspondent

GANDHINAGAR: Large-scale cross-voting, particularly among the dissident ruling BJP members, was feared in Gujarat where polling for the Presidential election ended briskly within the first two hours after the booths opened on Thursday morning.

All the 182 members of the Assembly as well as a BJP member of the Rajya Sabha from the State, Suryakant Acharya, cast their votes and the process ended even before the House began its brief two-day monsoon session at 12 noon.

Party leadership apprehended that at least 15 ruling party members in the State might have voted against NDA nominee Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in favour of the United Progressive Alliance-Left candidate Pratibha Patil.