Mulayam's vote for Pranab doesn't count: EC

New Delhi -  Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mulayam Singh Yadav's vote in the presidential election should not be counted, the Election Commission said Friday. The SP chief had   sought a second ballot paper after wrongly ticking the first in favour of opposition nominee P.A. Sangma.

"The second ballot paper issued to Mulayam Singh Yadav may not be taken up for counting," the Election Commision of India said in its order to Rajya Sabha secretary general V.K. Agnihotri,  the returning officer for the July 19 presidential election.

Mulayam Singh, who had pledged support to ruling UPA's presidential hopeful Pranab Mukherjee, Thursday almost voted for Sangma, but realising the mistake in time quickly filled another ballot paper and cast it.

Sangma's team had demanded his vote be cancelled.

The poll panel said the second ballot paper to Mulayam Singh was not warranted according to the Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections Rules, 1974.

"It may also be added that the first ballot paper issued to Mulayam Singh cannot be counted as the secrecy of ballot was violated," said the order faxed to the Rajya Sabha secretariat.

Sangma's election campaign manager Satpal Jain had written to the commission saying as any voter is "not entitled to another ballot" under the law.