Polling begins to elect new President

Polling began this morning to elect a new President, climaxing a month-long bitter campaign which saw the worst mud-slinging in the run up to choose the successor to A P J Abdul Kalam.

The polling started at 1000 hrs in the Parliament House amidst tight security and strict vigil by the Election Commission, which gave a series of stringent instructions for voters to follow.

Polling also began in 30 State Capitals and Union Territories to enable MLAs to cast their ballots.

For the first time, the Election Commission has issued orders to ensure proper identification of voters "with due care and diligence and not mechanically".

As part of other special measures to ensure a smooth polling, the Commission ordered videography of critical events including poll proceedings and barred voters and polling officials from carrying mobile phones inside the polling stations.

Interestingly, voters have been asked not to use any pen other than the one officially supplied to mark the ballot paper. They have been asked not to write their name or signature or any words on the ballot paper.

Out of the 4,896-strong electoral college, 776 are MPs and 4,120 are MLAs.

The total vote value is over 10.98 lakh and the UPA, riding on the crest of a confidence wave, claims it will romp home with nearly six lakh votes to send its nominee Pratibha Patil to the Raisina Hill, pipping NDA-backed independent Bhairon Singh Shekhawat to the post.