News Desk: The Congress faced a big jolt during the president poll on Thursday as Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav first voted for Pranab Mukherjee's rival NDA nominee PA Sangma, then voted for the UPA candidate.

The Election Commission on Friday rejected Mulayam's vote in the Presidential poll and directed the Returning Officer (RO) not to count it as the secrecy of the ballot had been violated.


The ballot paper, which was issued for second time to Mulayam, was not warranted under rule 15 of the Presidential and Vice- Presidential Elections Rules, 1974. Therefore, the vote cannot be counted.


Mulayam voted for Sangma while casting his vote to Pranab in the Parliament yesterday. He then tore the ballot paper and again voted for Pranab. 


Mulayam had announced that his party will back the UPA's candidate in the President poll. However, the party supremo made a blunder while voting for Pranab on Thursday.


The SP chief had appeared in a cameo at the side of Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee while suggesting the names of three people for President. However, he left Mamata's side and announced to support UPA candidate for the post of president.

Follow us on Twitter & Be our Fan on Facebook.