Congress MLA Seethakka Votes For Draupadi Murmu As President

Congress MLA Danasari Anasuya, also known as Seethakka, today cast her vote in the President of India elections in favour of NDA candidate Draupadi Murmu instead of the joint opposition's candidate Yashwant Sinha who the Congress is supporting.

Draupadi Murmu belongs to an ST, as does Seethakka, who represents Mulugu in Telangana, a constituency reserved for ST candidates.

Confusion prevailed for some time while Seethakka cast her vote at the Telangana Assembly. She took a lot of time at the ballot box to cast her vote. Apparently realizing that she had made a mistake, she asked the assistant returning officer for a new ballot paper claiming that there was an ink blot on the paper given to her. Following this, the officer contacted the Election Commission on the issue.

However, the ECI officials told her that it was not possible for them to issue a fresh ballot paper. Following that, the agent of Yashwant Sinha, ex-MLA Maheshwar Reddy, too tried to request the ECI officials to let her use another ballot paper, but his request was declined, too.

Left with no option, Seethakka dropped the original ballot paper in the ballot box.