146 Odisha MLAs vote in presidential election

As the voting for the presidential election in Odisha concluded here this evening, 146 of the 147 members of the state Assembly and an MP exercised their franchise.
Barring Congress legislator from Bijepur constituency in Bargarh district Subal Sahu, all MLAs from the state cast their votes in the election for the top constitutional post.
Alajangi Viswanath Swamy, Independent member of Rajya Sabha, also cast his vote in the polling held in the state assembly building here.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, leader of the Opposition Narasingha Mishra and BJP legislature party leader K V Singhdeo were among the early voters.

As the voting was held in the state Assembly building amid tight security, legislators belonging to different political parties joined the polling process and cast their votes at intervals.
NDA's presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind is being supported by the ruling BJD in Odisha.

Kovind was in Odisha on July 14 and met leaders of BJD and BJP at separate meetings in the state capital.
The UPA candidate Meira Kumar could not visit Odisha in the run up to the presidential election since her tour was cancelled.
While there are 117 BJD MLAs in the 147-member Odisha Assembly, the Congress has 16 legislators, the BJP 10, the CPI-M and the Samata Kranti Dal have one MLA each. There are two Independent MLAs in the House.