Presidential election begins in India

India's presidential election began Monday, with parliamentarians

and state legislators voting to select between ruling Bharatiya Janata

Party's contender Ram Nath Kovind and opposition nominee Meira Kumar.

Voting began at 10:00 a.m. local time and will end at 5:00 p.m. local

time. A total of 4,896 lawmakers across the country - parliamentarians

and legislators - are eligible to vote in the poll, the results of which

will be announced on July 20.

The winner of the election will be sworn into office for a five-year

term on July 27 and will replace incumbent President Pranab Mukherjee, a

political veteran who has held the post since 2012.

On the eve of the presidential election, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

congratulated Kovind "in advance" and assured him of his government's

support - given that his BJP and its allies have over 60 percent of the

vote above the 17 opposition parties.

On the other hand, India's main opposition Congress party chief Sonia

Gandhi said Sunday that the election is a fight against "narrow-minded

communal vision." "In these contests, the numbers may be against us, but

the battle must be fought and fought hard," she said.

The Indian president is the ceremonial head of state, who plays

decisive roles only in case of a hung parliament after general

elections.