Ram Nath Kovind elected as India’s 14th President

APD NEWS

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By APD Writer Rishika Chauhan

NEW DELHI, July 21 (APD) -- Ram Nath Kovind, the former governor of the province of Bihar won the presidential election with 66% votes on Thursday.

Kovind is 71 years old and is a Dalit, a caste considered low in India.

He is the second Dalit after President Kocheril Raman Narayanan to have been appointed to the post.

A candidate of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Kovind secured the support of 40 political parties, receiving 702,044 or 65.65% votes in the election. While Meira Kumar, the opposition’s candidate received 367,314 votes.

Kovind, who belongs to Uttar Pradesh’s Paraunkh village remembered his disadvantaged childhood after the results were announced. He said, “Today it rained in Delhi, reminding me of the monsoon of my childhood. We had a weak house and the roof leaked … We, the siblings, stood against the wall and waited for the rain to end.”

He thanked the country for showing its “enormous love to the NDA” and pledged to represent “all those struggling to make a living”.

Kovind will enter his official residence, the Rashtrapati Bhavan on July 25, the same day incumbent Pranab Mukherjee will leave for his new address in Rajaji Marg in New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “Congratulations to Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji on being elected the President of India! Best wishes for a fruitful & inspiring tenure.”

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)