Bengaluru, Jul 18 (IANS): Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai expressed confidence that NDA candidate Draupadi Murmu will get higher votes than ever and emerge victorious in Presidential elections. "Fearing defeat, the opposition Congress is indulged in low level politics," he stated.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote on Monday, he stated that there is goodwill among all parties on the candidature of Draupadi Murmu to the post of the President.

"It is not only NDA and its allies but opposition parties have also openly supported Draupadi Murmu. She has been an efficient administrator, minister, people's representative and also worked as the Governor," Bommai stated.

"Hailing from a tribal background, Draupadi Murmu is a person with humane values. She had been elected for the top post of the country by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he had given a message through this selection," he said.

"Opposition parties JD(S), Mayawathi Ji, Shiv Sena, Jharkahand Mukthi Morcha, YSR party have extended their support. Congress will understand that they have to follow the principle of goodness. Now they have been really out of power and suffering and further fear of losing powers is making them raise objections," he stated.

Former CM B.S. Yediyurappa stated that the Presidential candidate should be elected unanimously. "Drupadi Murmu will get 70 per cent of votes and register victory. It is common for the opposite parties to put up a candidate. However, it is common in democracy and victory of the NDA candidate is confirmed," he said.

All 121 MLAs from BJP were stationed in a private hotel in Bengaluru for two days. They arrived in buses to cast their votes. The MLAs were given special training in this regard as 17 votes had turned out to be invalid in the last Presidential elections.

The training was earlier given to Minister for Energy V. Sunil Kumar, National General Secretary and BJP MLA C.T. Ravi, MLA Abhay Patil. In turn, they had given training through mock voting to all legislators.

BJP legislators arrived at the Assembly in buses from the private luxury hotel, flaunting saffron shawls to cast their votes. CM Bommai arrived at the hotel and had breakfast with the MLAs. Bommai and Yediyurappa came in the bus along with the MLAs to cast their votes.

JD(S) which has strength of about 30 MLAs in Karnataka Legislative Assembly, two in Kerala Legislative Assembly and one Lok Sabha seat has pledged its support to NDA candidate Draupadi Murmu. Opposition Congress' 67 MLAs will support UPA candidate Yashwant Sinha.