New Delhi: After eight rounds of counting today, Ram Nath Kovind has been elected as the 14th President of India. National Democratic Alliance’s candidate Kovind secured over 65% of votes over rival Meira Kumar, who was backed by the Congress and other opposition parties.
NEW DELHI: NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind has been elected the country's 14th
Given NDA’s clear advantage in terms of votes, Kumar had described her candidature against Kovind more as the “battle of ideology”. Both candidates come from the marginalised dalit community.
Before contesting Presidential elections, the 71-year-old Kovind was serving as the governor of Bihar. He will be only the second dalit leader after K.R. Narayanan since independence to occupy India’s highest Constitutional post.
Here are the latest updates and developments as the counting of votes for the election of 14th President of India begins:
■ BJP veteran L K Advani congratulated President-elect Ram Nath Kovind on his victory. Soon after he came to know of Kovind’s win in the presidential election, Advani spoke to him and gave him his best wishes.
■ Leaders of the two factions in the ruling AIADMK, chief minister K. Palaniswami and his predecessor O. Panneerselvam, today greeted Ram Nath Kovind on his winning the Presidential polls.
Palaniswami congratulated Kovind for his “resounding victory.” “I wish to convey to you my own felicitations and also those of the people of Tamil Nadu for a historic tenure in Rashtrapati Bhavan,” he said in a letter to the NDA candidate.
Panneerselvam expressed “great joy” on Kovind winning the presidential polls. “Having been elected as the first citizen of India, we wish Mr Ramnath Kovind name and fame due to his skill and service,” Panneerselvam said in a statement.
The rebel AIADMK leader also greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah.
Both the Amma and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma factions of the ruling AIADMK, led by Palaniswami and Panneerselvam, respectively, had supported Kovind in the 17 July poll held to elect the president. (PTI)
■ West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today congratulated Ram Nath Kovind for winning the presidential election defeating opposition’s candidate Meira Kumar.
“Congratulations to Ram Nath Kovind Ji, who will be our next President,” Banerjee said in a tweet. (PTI)
■ Kerala governor P. Sathasivam today congratulated Ram Nath Kovind, on his victory in the Presidential election.
In a message, the governor expressed the hope that with his vast and varied experience and dedication, Kovind would succeed in guiding the Nation to new heights of growth and development. (PTI)
■ A festive atmosphere prevailed today at the 10 Akbar Road bungalow where president-elect Ram Nath Kovind has been staying since filing his nomination for the top constitutional post. Flower pots were lined up at the main entrance while several baskets of flowers, including choicest roses, were taken inside the bungalow premises, to welcome Kovind. (PTI)
■ Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar today greeted Ram Nath Kovind on being elected President of the country.
Kumar, also JD(U) president, called up Kovind and extended his greetings and wishes to him, an official statement said here.
Nitish Kumar broke ranks with opposition and pledged JD(U) support to him in presidential poll. Kumar cited his role as Governor of Bihar as a reason for supporting him.
Kovind, the NDA candidate, was today elected as the country’s 14th president defeating opposition’s nominee Meira Kumar, a former Lok Sabha speaker. (PTI)
■ Former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal today congratulated the NDA’s nominee Ram Nath Kovind on being elected as India’s 14th President and described him as a “self-made man”.
The 90-year-old Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patriarch said Kovind’s victory is a win for rational forces that wanted to take the country forward. The SAD also appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision in nominating a “farmer’s son” for the coveted office.
“We would like to congratulate Shri Kovind for the manner in which he managed to take everyone along. It was due to his personality and deeds,” Parkash said.
The SAD leader said Kovind was also a role model for India’s youth. (PTI)
■ Ram Nath Kovind: “I thank all those who supported me from across the country. I feel very emotional today and I will represent all those struggling to make a living. I never aspired to be the president. My win is a message to those discharging their duties with integrity. My election as the president is evidence of the greatness of Indian democracy.” (PTI)
■ BJP chief Amit Shah today hailed as “historic” the election of NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind as the next president and said it is a “victory for the poor, downtrodden and marginalised and their aspirations”. In a series of tweets after Kovind was declared victorious in the presidential poll, Shah expressed confidence that he would distinguish himself as an exceptional president of the country. (PTI)
■ “My best wishes to Kovind ji, it is up to him to uphold the Constitution in letter and spirit in these challenging times. I want to thank opposition leaders including Congress president Sonia Gandhi. My fight for secularism to continue,” says Meira Kumar. (PTI)
■ Leaders from both the ruling and opposition parties extend their greetings to President-elect Ram Nath Kovind.
Home minister Rajnath Singh:“Congratulations to Shri Ram Nath Kovind ji on his successful election as the President of India. I wish him success and a great future.”
I&B and textiles minister Smriti Irani: “Shri Ram Nath Kovind ji’s rich experience in public life will enrich the office of President of India.”
Food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal: “Heartiest congrats to Sh. RamNathKovind ji for an overwhelming win in the Presidential Elections to become the 14th president of India.”
■ PM Narendra Modi also congratulates opposition nominee Meira Kumar for her campaign, says it was in spirit of democratic ethos and values which “we all are proud of”. (PTI)