In the Rajya Sabha elections for six seats held on Friday in the Assembly, 248 members participated in the voting process while the YSRCP, CPI and BJP leaders abstained from voting and other parties, including the Congress, TDP, TRS, CPI, MIM and Lok Satta Party participated in the process.
Curiously, while Congress MLA Daggubati Venkateswara Rao refused to cast his vote by pressing NOTA (none of the above) button in the EVM, Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar was the first MLA to cast his vote and Jubilee Hills MLA P Vishnuvardhan Reddy was the last to vote. Rebel Congress candidate and retired from contest on Thursday Adala Prabhakar Reddy, reportedly cast his vote to T Subbarami Reddy. TDP senior leader Mothkupalli Narasimulu, who was annoyed over denial of RS nomination, finally made it to the Assembly and cast his vote with protest. Mangalagiri MLA Kamala dropped empty ballot paper in the box. MIM leader Mumtaj Ahmed Khan’s vote may not be valid, sources said. Withdrawal of the Congress rebel candidate Adala Prabhakar Reddy failed to prevent the elections otherwise unanimous winning could be a formality. Technically, Prabhakar Reddy was in the fray as he did not withdraw on January 30, the last date for withdrawal of nominations. (NSS)