Kovind 14th President

NEW DELHI:Ram Nath Kovind, the NDA candidate, was on Thursday elected as India''s 14th president receiving an overwhelming majority of votes from the country''s lawmakers. Kovind defeated opposition''s Meira Kumar, a former Lok Sabha speaker, garnering more than 65 per cent of the votes in the Electoral College, the Returning Officer for the poll announced.

An artist gives finishing touches to a portrait of the newly-elected President in Amritsar on Thursday. Tribune photo: Vishal Kumar

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 20

NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind was elected as the 14th President of India today. He registered a convincing win over Opposition’s Meira Kumar, garnering 2,930 of the 4,774 valid votes — 65.65 per cent of the electoral college strength.

The race to Raisina Hill was tilted in favour of Kovind from the day (June 27) BJP chief Amit Shah announced his name, taking everyone by surprise. However, in spite of some evident cross-voting in Kovind’s favour, Meira Kumar’s share of 34.35 per cent happens to be the second highest registered by a runner-up in a presidential poll.

Edit: President Ram Nath Kovind

Kovind will take oath of office on July 25 for a five-year term.

Cross-voting was witnessed not only in BJP-ruled states but also in non-NDA states. This can be a cause of worry for the Opposition that has been planning a “grand alliance” to take on the BJP in the 2019 General Election.

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Besides the BJD and the JD-U, Samajwadi Party leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav, a rebel Congress legislator and six Trinamool Congress legislators in Manipur also backed Kovind. In Delhi, where Aam Aadmi Party’s 65 MLAs were supporting her, Meira Kumar polled 55 votes. In other words, Kovind, who managed six votes from Delhi, also got support from two AAP MLAs, one of which was suspended MLA Kapil Mishra. The BJP has only four MLAs in Delhi.

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In Goa, where the Congress has 17 MLAs, only 11 voted for Meira whereas 25 voted in favour of Kovind. Two votes were declared invalid. In the 182-member Gujarat Assembly that has 121 BJP members, Kovind polled 132 votes while Meira got 49. Obviously, some among Congress’ 57 MLAs and NCP’s two voted in favour of Kovind.

#WATCH: Returning Officer of #PresidentialElection2017, Anoop Mishra declares #RamNathKovind's name as the next President of India. pic.twitter.com/jlVy18vhtR
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 20, 2017

In the 90-member Haryana Assembly with 18 Congress and BSP legislators, Meira polled 16, while one vote was found invalid. Like Bihar, which voted as per party lines, much to the relief of the Congress, the 117-member Punjab also went on expected lines. There are 18 SAD and BJP legislators and Kovind polled exactly the same number, while three votes were found invalid.

Meanwhile, the votes of 77 lawmakers were found invalid. In Parliament, Kovind got 522 of the 747 valid votes, while Meira got 225.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to congratulate Kovind.

Congratulations to Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji on being elected the President of India! Best wishes for a fruitful & inspiring tenure.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 20, 2017

Gladdened by the extensive support for Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji among MPs & across various states. I thank members of the electoral college.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 20, 2017

I also congratulate @meira_kumar Ji for her campaign, which was in spirit of the democratic ethos & values we all are proud of.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 20, 2017