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Highlights: Ram Nath Kovind is next President of India, to take oath on July 25
Ram Nath Kovind has been elected India’s new President, defeating the Opposition’s pick, Meira Kumar.
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Ram Nath Kovind was on Thursday elected as the new President of India, securing a massive margin over his rival Meira Kumar.
In an electoral college of 4,986 voters with a vote value of 10,98,903, Kovind got 2,930 votes carrying a value of 7,00,244, while the former Lok Sabha Speaker secured 1,844 votes with a value of 3,67,314.
While Kovind got 65.65% of the total valid vote value of 10,69,358, Meira Kumar got 34.35%.
Here are the live updates:
5.52pm:
5.13pm: I congratulate Ram Nath Kovind ji for his victory. It is a victory of the democracy: Union minister Nitin Gadkari.
5.06pm: Want to make it very clear that today on July 20 July, my battle for ideology doesn’t end, it will continue: Meira Kumar
5pm: I thank all who supported me from across country, I feel very emotional, I’ll represent all struggling to make a living: Ram Nath Kovind
4.55pm: On July 25, after demitting office, Pranab Mukherjee will shift to 10 Rajaji Marg, his address for the rest of his life. As former President, he will be entitled to all facilities enjoyed by Union cabinet ministers.
4.54pm: I congratulate Shri Ram Nath Kovindji for becoming the President of India: Meira Kumar
4.52pm: PM Narendra Modi congratulates Ram Nath Kovind, says he is gladdened by the extensive support he got.
4.50pm: During his tenure, President Pranab Mukherjee cleared 32 mercy petitions. He also did away with honorifics like Mahamahim and “His Excellency”.
4.47pm: I thank BJP members, NDA family, other valued parties and leaders who supported Shri Ram Nath Kovind ji: BJP president Amit Shah.
4.45pm: President-elect Ram Nath Kovind will be administered oath by the Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar on July 25. Pranab Mukerhjee’s last day as President will be July 24.
4.32pm:
4.28pm: Final figures from counting of votes in presidential election:
Ram Nath Kovind -- 702044 votes
Meira Kumar -- 367314 votes
4:23pm: Lok Sabha secretary general Anoop Mishra announces victory for Ram Nath Kovind. To be India’s new President
4.09pm: Sources say Kovind got more votes than expected in Gujarat and Goa.
4.02pm: NDA pick Ram Nath Kovind gets 65.65% votes in presidential election, official announcement of victory shortly, say sources.
3.53pm: NDA presidential candidate Kovind crosses halfway mark, last phase of counting underway.
2.49pm: Paraunkh and Jhinjhak in Kanpur Dehat district are all set to celebrate as the village and the town are confident that Ram Nath Kovind will become the next President of India shortly. Full story.
2.40pm: Ram Nath Kovind gets 1,389 votes with value of 479585; Meira Kumar gets 576 with value of 20,4594 after counting of votes from 11 states.
2.12pm: “I am not upset, why should I be upset? I am a fighter, I fought for the belief and faith of majority of my countrymen and women,” says the Opposition’s nominee, Meira Kumar.
1.35pm: NDA’s nominee Ram Nath Kovind is leading with 60,683 votes. The Opposition’s pick, Meira Kumar, is at 22,941 votes. These numbers are from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, according to returning officer Anoop Mishra.
11.55am: The counting of votes polled in the presidential election is underway. Here is how India picks its President.
11.29am: A two-time Rajya Sabha MP, former BJP spokesperson and till recently the Bihar governor, Ram Nath Kovind has never been part of the Lutyen’s Delhi until the limelight was thrust upon him when the ruling party announced his name as its Presidential nominee last month. Find out more about Kovind.
11.20am: “Great belief in ideology I fought for, also believe in inner voice of conscience. Let’s see how much it prevails,” says Meira Kumar, the Opposition’s presidential nominee.
11 am: Counting of votes polled in the presidential election begins.
10:59 am: BJP and Congress leaders before the counting of votes in the Parliament.
10:57 am: Officials ready to start counting of votes in Parliament.
10:15 am: Huge crowd gathers outside Kovind’s ancestral house.
10: 00 am: Ram Nath Kovind’s sister-in-law Vidyavati is observing fast since Wednesday for his victory. She is the wife of Shiv Balak, Kovind’s brother, who played a crucial role in his education and sent him to Kanpur for higher studies.
8:48 am: Villagers in Ram Nath Kovind’s village Paraunkh in Uttar Pradesh are glued to their TV sets and radios in anticipation of the result. The village is all set to celebrate the likely win of Kovind.
•The candidate who secures at least one vote more than 50 per cent of the total votes will be elected as the President.
• A total of 4,896 voters -- 4,120 MLAs and 776 elected MPs -- were eligible to cast their ballot.
• Voting was held in 32 polling stations -- one in Parliament House Room No 62 and rest one each in state legislative assemblies.
(inputs from agencies)
