PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has lauded three legislative members (MLAS) from opposition benches who cross-voted in support of President-elect Droupadi Murmu.

The Chief Minister said that although Droupadi Murmu received 28 votes, the National democratic alliance (NDA)  only had 25 seats in the Goa Assembly. In support of the NDA's presidential candidate, Sawant said, "I applaud all MLAs and MPs from Goa for having provided an overwhelming mandate and for embracing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of New India.

Apart from our MLAs, I want to thank the three opposition MLAs who supported Droupadi Murmu, Sawant remarked. "Everyone should feel proud that a member of the Schedule Tribe community has attained the highest position. I'm quite pleased "said Sawant.

Before the presidential election, Sawant predicted that Droupadi Murmu, the NDA's presidential nominee, would receive more than 25 votes from Goa's legislators because the BJP had urged all MLAs to vote for her.

Twenty-five MLAs total, i.e 20 from the BJP, two from the MGP, three from independent parties. With 11 MLAs from the opposition Congress, 2 from the AAP, 1 from Goa Forward, and 1 from the RG Party, the opposition has a total of 15 MLAs.

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