Pranab to be 'guest' in new home

Pranab Mukherjee may have to stay as a 'guest' at Rashtrapati Bhavan for a few days after being sworn-in as the President on Wednesday.

Pranab Mukherjee may have to stay as a 'guest' at Rashtrapati Bhavan for a few days after being sworn-in as the President on Wednesday.

The outgoing President Pratibha Patil and her family will leave the presidential household - two double-storey apartments - on July 25 afternoon, giving Mukherjee hardly any time to shift into his new residence.

Protocol demands that after being sworn-in as President at 11am on Wednesday, Mukherjee can't return to his 13 Talkatora Road bungalow or elsewhere.

"The Rashtrapati Bhavan has a separate apartment for its guests. The new President is likely to stay there till the new furnishing are in place. When Patil came in 2007, she was also put up there during the initial period," an official told HT.

Elaborate arrangements are already underway for Wednesday's oath-taking ceremony. As per the schedule, President's military secretary and ADC will accompany Mukherjee and his spouse to the Rashtrapati Bhavan from Talkatora Road in the morning. The Mukherjees will formally meet Patil and her husband in the study room.

The programme, for Patil and Mukherjee inside the car and Parliament have already been planned and rehearsed.

After taking salute from the Guards, the two will proceed towards Parliament.

At Parliament, Lok Sabha Speaker, Vice President and Chief Justice of India will receive the guests. The oath will be administered by the CJI.

Post-oath, Mukherjee and Patil will interchange their seats on the dais of Central Hall.

After the 21 gun salute and home secretary's reading of the proclamation, Mukherjee will give his acceptance speech.

The day-long process has an interesting aspect for Mukherjee who considers 13 his lucky number. In the official schedule, the process starts from 9.13am.