New Delhi: The numbers stacked in the favour of NDA’s presidential candidate Ramnath Kovind, declaring him as 14th President of the country. Securing 65.65 percent of the votes from the Electoral College, Kovind has defeated opposition’s candidate Meira Kumar.
Former governor of Bihar, the new occupant of ‘Rashtrapati Bhawan’, 71 year old Kovind will be sworn in on 25th of July.
The counting began at 11 a.m. simultaneously across four tables with the opening Ballot box of Parliament House. The whole counting was done in eight rounds.
A total of 4,895 voters — 4,120 MLAs and 776 elected MPs — were eligible to vote. Madhya Pradesh Minister Narottam Mishra did not cast his vote as he was disqualified by the poll body over the allegations of “paid news”.
Kovind got the votes of 522 Members of Parliament while Kumar bagged the votes of 225 MPs. The NDA candidate’s victory was already being anticipated as almost 40 parties, including many from outside the NDA fold pledged to support him.
Close to 99 per cent voting was recorded for electing India’s next president which is the highest ever, according to Returning Officer, Anoop Mishra. “This is an emotional moment for me and It is also going to be a huge responsibility”, said Kovind to the media.
“I congratulate Shri Ram Nath Kovindji for becoming the President of India. My best wishes with Kovindji as it has fallen upon him to uphold Constitution in letter and spirit in these challenging times. My fight for secularism, the oppressed & the marginalised continues. I thank all my well wishers for their support and good wishes ”, said Meira Kumar.
