National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Ram Nath Kovind bagged 65.65% votes over his rival the UPA’s Meira Kumar to become the 14th President of India.
Returning office Anoop Mishra announced Kovind got the votes of 522 MPs (3,69,576 vote value), while Kumar managed 225 votes (1,59,300 vote value) of Parliament members.
He succeeds Pranab Mukherjee whose Presidential term will end on July 24. Kovind becomes the second Dalit to occupy the office after K R Narayanan, who was at the Rashtrapati Bhavan from 1997 to 2002.
He will take oath as President on July 25. An emotional Kovind said: “I represent the many Kovinds who work hard for their livelihood.”
He added: “I thank all who supported me from across the country. I feel very emotional.” Kovind thanked and congratulated Meira Kumar. “It is an emotional moment for me today. Rashtrapati pad par mera chayan Bhartiya loktantra ki mahaanta ka prateek hai (My election is a symbol of democracy’s greatness).”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi too congratulated Ram Nath Kovind, saying he was gladdened by the extensive support the NDA nominee got. Modi also congratulated Opposition nominee Meira Kumar for her campaign, stating the contest was in the spirit of democratic ethos and values which “we are all proud of”. The presidential poll on Monday saw nearly 99 per cent voting, the highest ever, according to returning officer.
32 polling stations including the one in Parliament House, were set up in various states. A total of 4,895 voters — 4,120 MLAs and 776 elected MPs — were eligible to vote.
 candidate Ram Nath Kovind bagged 65.65% votes over his rival the UPA's Meira Kumar to become the 14th President of India.){kind=link}