Rebel BJP MLA from Mahuva in Bhanvnagar, Kanu Kalsariya, on Thursday claimed that he has voted for Pranab Mukherjee as president. Despite his party backing P A Sangma as president, Kalsariya had gone against party lines claiming that he was against the anti-farmer policies of the Narendra Modi government in the state. "The policy of BJP government in Gujarat has been harmful to the farmers of the state. And because I do not agree with the government's policy, I have voted for Pranab Mukherjee. I find him to be a better president," Kalsariya said.
Out of the total 182 MLAs in the state assembly, 181 MLAs voted on Thursday during the presidential election. One MLA, Amit Shah voted in New Delhi. Shah, a prime accused in a fake encounter case, has been directed by the Supreme Court not to enter Gujarat. Three Rajya Sabha MPs from the state caste their votes along one MP from Jharkhand in state capital Gandhinagar.
