Presidential Election: Yashwant Sinha Urges MPs, MLAs To Vote In His Favour To Save ‘Democracy’

Anand Singh

| Updated: 18 July, 2022 3:16 pm IST

NEW DELHI: As voting took place today for India’s new President, opposition presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha on Monday dubbed the polling as “very important” and urged political parties to vote in his favour to save democracy and the Constitution.

Speaking to the media, Sinha said, “This election is very important and will set the path for the country’s democracy, whether it will stay or not. I hope all political parties vote in my favour to save democracy and protect the Constitution.”

Appealing to the MPs and MLAs across the country to listen to their “inner voice” and support him, he said, “This is a secret ballot. I appeal to all MPs and MLAs to use their discretion and elect me to save democracy.”

He also asserted that he is not “just fighting a political battle”, but a fight against government agencies too. “They have become too powerful and there is also a game of money involved,” Sinha said.

Sinha is pitted against NDA’s candidate Draupadi Murmu.

Sinha, a former bureaucrat and a Union minister during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, was named as the joint candidate for the presidential election on June 21. The counting of votes will take place on July 21.

Murmu has a clear edge over Sinha as 60 per cent of votes are expected in her favour. Apart from NDA parties, she has the support of BJD, YSRCP, BSP, AIADMK, TDP, JD(S), Shiromani Akali Dal, Shiv Sena and JMM. If elected, she will become the first woman from the tribal community to hold the country’s top constitutional post.