Ram Nath Kovind vs Meira Kumar: All eyes on Presidential poll counting today

The counting for the presidential election, which was held on Monday, would take place on Thursday and the name of the next successor of the Rashtrapati Bhawan would be known by 5.00 PM. 

NDA’s candidate Ram Nath Kovind and UPA’s candidate Meira kumar are vying for the top constitutional post.

According to Lok Sabha secretary general Anoop Mishra, who is also the returning officer of the election, the counting would kick off at 11 AM.

First, the ballot box of Parliament House would be opened, and then, the ballot boxes received from states would be counted on alphabetical basis. 

The votes would be counted on four separate tables and there would be eight rounds of counting. An Election Commission official who has witnessed previous two presidential polls said, usually results are declared around 5 PM. 

Close to 99 per cent voting was recorded for electingIndia's next president.

Also Read | Presidential poll 2017: UP MLA Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya votes for Kovind, says he has good relations with him

 The numbers are stacked in favour of the ruling coalition's nominee Ram Nath Kovind over the opposition's candidate Meira Kumar. 

Thirty two polling stations including the one in Parliament house, were set up in various states. A total of 4,896 voters -- 4,120 MLAs and 776 elected MPs-- were eligible to cast their ballot.

MLCs of states with legislative council are not part of the electoral college. While the value of an MLA's vote depends on the population of the state he or she belongs to, the value of an MP's vote remains the same at 708. (With PTI Inputs)

Also Read | Presidential Poll 2017: Ram Nath Kovind will win comfortably, says BJP; Opposition calls Meira Kumar best choice