New Delhi, Jul 20 – Putting the ideological war at rest, NDA nominee Ram Nath Kovind today became the 14th President of India by pocketing 66.65 per cent of the total vote share. Adding another feather to the NDA’s cap, Mr Kovind (72) defeated joint opposition nominee Ms Meira Kumar, both Dalit leaders, who managed to garner meagre 34.35 per cent votes. On his victory, Mr Kovind, who became the second Dalit president and first from the country’s most populated state Uttar Pradesh, said, “My election victory is a tribute to greatness of Indian democracy.” Mr Kovind, who was the Governor of Bihar before his nomination for election to the top Constitutional post, would take over charge from incumbent Pranab Mukherjee in Rashtrapati Bhawan on July 25. President Mukherjee congratulating Mr Kovind tweeted,”Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Mr Ram Nath Kovind on being elected as the 14th President of India.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a series of tweets said he was ‘gladdened by the extensive support’ garnered by Mr Kovind and said the NDA nominee got support of the elected members from across the states. The Prime Minister also posted a photograph of him standing aside Mr Kovind and his wife and also wrote in the microblogging site: ‘….20 years ago and the present…always been a privilege to know you, President-Elect.’ “I am sure Shri Ram Nath Kovind ji will distinguish himself as an exceptional President of our nation,’ he said. “The election of Shri Ram Nath Kovind ji is a victory for the poor, downtrodden & marginalised and their aspirations,’ BJP national supremo Amit Shah said. Talking to reporters after the declaration of results for the Presidential polls, Ms Kumar said,’I want to make it very clear that today on 20th July 2017 my battle for ideology doesn’t end. It will continue. My fight for Secularism, the oppressed and the marginalised continues.’ Mr Kovind secured 2,930 votes of the value of 7.02 lakh as against 3.67 lakh of Ms Kumar. Secretary General of the Lok Sabha, who is the returning officer for the Presidential poll, announced here declaring Mr Kovind as elected after the counting of votes, which began this morning and was completed around 1600 hrs. In Parliament, Mr Kovind was supported by 722 MPs, and Ms Kumar secured the vote of 225 MPs, while 21 votes of MPs were found invalid. The polls for the highest office of the country was held on July 17
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