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New Delhi : NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind, 71, was on July 20, 2017, 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, getting more than 65% of the votes in the Electoral College, according to the Returning Officer (RO) for the poll. He is the first BJP member to be elected the President of India.
Kovind, who will be the second Dalit to hold the top constitutional position, received 2,930 votes with a value of 7,02,044, according to RO Anoop Mishra. Meira Kumar, also a Dalit, polled in 1,844 votes with a value of 3,67,314. The polling was marked by cross-voting in some states where many opposition members favoured Kovind. The Vice-Presidential election will be held on August 5.
PM Narendra Modi congratulated Ram Nath Kovind on being elected the President of India.
“Congratulations to Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji on being elected the President of India! Best wishes for a fruitful & inspiring tenure. Gladdened by the extensive support for Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji among MPs & across various states. I thank members of the Electoral College. I also congratulate Meira Kumar Ji for her campaign, which was in spirit of the democratic ethos & values we all are proud of, ” PM Modi said, according to a PIB release.