India Casts Vote For UN Security Council Election, Likely To Win Non-Permanent Seat 'Unopposed'

The voting began at 9:30 am (7:00 PM India time) while the results from the secret ballot are expected around 4:30 PM (2 AM on Thursday in India.)

Image Courtesy: ANI

Ballot voting for the five non-permanent seats at the Union Nations' Security Council commenced on June 17. India, which also cast its vote at the General Assembly, is expected to secure one seat 'unopposed' for the two-year term. Fearing fraud in polls, UN General Assembly on Wednesday called in for elections by secret ballot without a plenary meeting for non-permanent members of the Security Council. Officials from 193-member nations came to the General Assembly chamber and filled in paper ballots to cast their vote for the five new non-permanent members of the council for the next two years. The voting began at 9:30 am (7:00 PM India time) while the results from the secret ballot are expected around 4:30 PM (2 AM on Thursday in India.)

In the African region, Kenya and Djibouti are in the fray for one seat while Canada, Ireland and Norway are in the face-off for two seats among themselves from the Western block.

For the Latin American region, Mexico appears to be assuring a seating for itself as there is no opposition. Similarly, for the Asia Pacific block, India is likely to earn an unopposed victory. Once elected again this time, India, which has been trying for a permanent seat on the expanded table, will lead its eighth term on the UN Security Council. UN's Security Council has 15 members in a total of which, five are permanent members while 10 are non-permanent. The permanent ones - called the “P-5”—are the United States, Russia, Britain, France and China. Half the non-permanent members are elected every year, each for a two-year term, starting January 1. WATCH | Watch top 25 news of the day in 5 minutes