Lok Sabha Polls 2014: Pranab Mukherjee to use postal ballot

NEW DELHI: Breaking from tradition, President Pranab Mukherjee will become the first Head of the State to exercise his franchise through postal ballot when he will cast his vote early next week for South Kolkata Lok Sabha polls.

Unlike his predecessor, the President will not be voting in the national capital and will instead use postal ballot as he is a registered voter in 160 Rashbehari, part of South Kolkata parliamentary seat, which goes to polls on May 12, official sources said.

Mukherjee has completed the form required for the postal ballot, the sources said, adding the rationale behind the President's decision was that he did not want to pressurise the state administration for making arrangements for his visit.

This makes, Mukherjee, who is the country's 14th President, the first Head of the State to use postal ballot.

Presidents in the past have been voting either at the Rashtrapati Bhavan polling station or at Nirman Bhavan.

Mukherjee's polling station is Nikhil Bharat Bangabhasha Parishad at Lake road in Kolkata.

South Kolkata will see a multi-cornered contest with Congress fielding Mala Roy and BJP nominating state President Tathagata Roy.

Trinamool Congress has fielded sitting MP Subrata Bakshi whereas CPI-M's candidate is professor Nandini Mukherjee.

Withdrawal of nominations ended yesterday and as many as 15 candidates are in the fray for the seat.