RJD to vote for Pranab Mukherjee in Prez poll

The Rashtriya Janata Dal legislature party on Saturday decided unanimously to vote for United Progressive Alliance's candidate Pranab Mukherjee in the presidential polls to be held on July 19, the party's national president Lalu Prasad said.

At the RJD legislature party meeting held at former chief minister Rabri Devi's residence, it was unanimously decided that all 22 Members of Legislative Assembly of the party in Bihar and five in Jharkhand would vote for Mukherjee in the presidential polls, he told reporters.

Prasad said that the RJD has also appealed to all political parties to back the UPA nominee's candidature in the presidential polls and ensure the latter's election by consensus, as he was the most deserving person to become the country's next President.

He said 12 RJD MLAs would visit Ranchi on July 12 to express solidarity with Mukherjee, who would be visiting the Jharkhand capital on that day to canvass support.

The meeting was chaired by Leader of Opposition Abdul Bari Siddique and attended by Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and other senior party leaders.