New Delhi, Jul 19 (IANS): Thousands of Indian MPs and assembly members representing Thursday began casting their votes to choose a new president. It is a direct contest between ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Pranab Mukherjee and opposition-backed Purno Sangma.
Voting to choose the 13th president started simultaneously at national and state capitals.
The electoral college has 4,100 assembly members and 776 members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
In Delhi, polling began at 10 a.m. at Room No 63 of Parliament House. Arrangements for state legislators to vote have been made at assembly buildings in every state capital.
Polling will continue till 5 p.m.
The votes will be counted Sunday, three days before President Pratibha Patil five year tenure ends.