Nitish, Modi don't vote

Patna, July 19 (IANS) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi did not vote in the presidential election Thursday -- as they are not members of the legislative assembly.

Four of their cabinet colleagues also stayed away. All six are from the legislative council, whose members are not eligible to vote in the presidential election, an official said.

A total of 240 of the 243 legislators of Bihar voted Thursday.

While Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United voted for UPA presidential candidate Parnab Mukharjee, Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party legislators cast their votes for his rival Purno Sangma.

An independent legislator also voted for Sangma.

Members of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Congress and Lok Janshakti Party as well as four independents voted for Mukherjee.

The lone Communist Party of India legislator, Awadhesh Rai, stayed away in line with the party's decision to abstain. A BJP minister did not vote as he is in London while a JD-U member was ill and did not vote.