National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Ram Nath Kovind has become India's 14th President. He will officially be sworn in on July 25 in Delhi.
Kovind was competing against UPA candidate Meira Kumar.
The former Bihar governor on Thursday (20 July) won the election with two-third of the votes cast by an electoral college of MPs and state lawmakers.
Following the news of Kovind becoming the President, sweets were distributed in his native place in Uttar Pradesh. Kovind's house, where extra security was deployed, was full of congratulatory flowers.
A total of 4,800 members of Parliament and state assemblies cast votes on Monday to choose between the 71-year-old, Kovind and former speaker Meira Kumar who was backed by a 17-member bloc of Opposition parties.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Kovind on Twitter. He wrote, “Congratulations to Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji on being elected the President of India! Best wishes for a fruitful & inspiring tenure.”
Even Kumar sent her congratulatory message to the President saying, “I congratulate Sh. Ram Nath Kovindji for becoming the President of India. My best wishes are with Sh. Kovindji as it has fallen upon him to uphold the Constitution in letter & spirit in these challenging times.”
There was a massive 99% voting, the highest ever, that took place for the presidential election this time, the returning officer said, NDTV reported.
Kovind is a farmer’s son and a Dalit leader and it was PM Modi who fielded him for the presidential position.
Picture credit- NMTV
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