- Presidential Election 2017/
- Highlights
President Election Result 2017: Ram Nath Kovind Will Take Oath As 14th President Of India On July 25
Ram Nath Kovind has won the presidential election after securing over two-thirds of the total electoral college votes. Mr Kovind will be sworn-in as the 14th President of India on July 25. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Ram Nath Kovind for winning the presidential election. PM Modi tweeted: "Congratulations to Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji on being elected the President of India! Best wishes for a fruitful & inspiring tenure." Flowers and extra security had arrived at the former Bihar governor's home in Delhi long before the official announcement and sweets were passed around at his hometown in Uttar Pradesh. The counting of votes for the presidential election began at 11 am today. The contest, between the ruling NDA's Ram Nath Kovind and the Opposition's Meira Kumar, both Dalits, had seen nearly 99 per cent lawmakers and legislators cast their vote - the highest ever. Voting had taken place on July 17.
Who Is Ram Nath Kovind, Likely To Be Next President
Ram Nath Kovind, the former Governor of Bihar, is the candidate of the ruling coalition for the post of President of India. Mr Kovind, 71, "will make an exceptional President", Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said on Twitter. As an experienced lawyer, his "knowledge and understanding of the Constitution will benefit the nation," PM Modi emphasised.
Here are 10 interesting facts about Ram Nath Kovind:
1) Mr Kovind, a Dalit, is a farmer's son and in known for his humble origins and simple lifestyle.
2) Born on October 1, 1945, in Kanpur Dehat, Ram Nath Kovind is a commerce graduate. He pursued law from Kanpur University.
3) Mr Kovind practiced in the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court for more than 15 years.
4) He is married to Savita Kovind and has a son and a daughter.
5) Mr Kovind is the former president of BJP Dalit Morcha. He has also served as the BJP's national spokesperson.
6) He was also a two-time Rajya Sabha member from the state of Uttar Pradesh between 1994-2000 and 2000-06.
7) Mr Kovind had worked as a top aide to former Prime Minister Morarji Desai and has represented India at the United Nations in New York.
8) He has also been a member of several Parliamentary Committees, including the committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes/Tribes, Social Justice and Empowerment, and Law and Justice.
9) He was appointed as the Governor of Bihar by the Centre three years ago. The septuagenarian became the 36th Governor of Bihar in August 2015. His appointment had surprised many state leaders and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had voiced his displeasure over not being consulted. Though, during his term in Bihar, Governor Kovind hadn't run into no controversy with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
10) If elected, he will be the second Dalit President after KR Narayanan to hold the nation's highest office.
Ram Nath Kovind, the former Governor of Bihar, is the candidate of the ruling coalition for the post of President of India. Mr Kovind, 71, "will make an exceptional President", Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said on Twitter. As an experienced lawyer, his "knowledge and understanding of the Constitution will benefit the nation," PM Modi emphasised.
Here are 10 interesting facts about Ram Nath Kovind:
1) Mr Kovind, a Dalit, is a farmer's son and in known for his humble origins and simple lifestyle.
2) Born on October 1, 1945, in Kanpur Dehat, Ram Nath Kovind is a commerce graduate. He pursued law from Kanpur University.
3) Mr Kovind practiced in the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court for more than 15 years.
4) He is married to Savita Kovind and has a son and a daughter.
5) Mr Kovind is the former president of BJP Dalit Morcha. He has also served as the BJP's national spokesperson.
6) He was also a two-time Rajya Sabha member from the state of Uttar Pradesh between 1994-2000 and 2000-06.
7) Mr Kovind had worked as a top aide to former Prime Minister Morarji Desai and has represented India at the United Nations in New York.
8) He has also been a member of several Parliamentary Committees, including the committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes/Tribes, Social Justice and Empowerment, and Law and Justice.
9) He was appointed as the Governor of Bihar by the Centre three years ago. The septuagenarian became the 36th Governor of Bihar in August 2015. His appointment had surprised many state leaders and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had voiced his displeasure over not being consulted. Though, during his term in Bihar, Governor Kovind hadn't run into no controversy with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
10) If elected, he will be the second Dalit President after KR Narayanan to hold the nation's highest office.
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Opinion: What Modi Has Accomplished With Kovind's Election As PresidentR. Balashankar
Friday July 28, 2017The Mandal kamandal discourse that dominated Indian politics in the last three decades has finally come full circle with the election of Ram Nath Kovind as the new President of India. This is the first time in Indian history that the President, the Vice President and the Prime Minister belong to the Dalit and OBC communities.
Opinion: Nitish Kumar Teaches Opposition An Important LessonSwati Chaturvedi
Thursday June 22, 2017The choice of Meira Kumar who is from Bihar and a Jatav Dalit has certainly put Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in a tight spot politically which was the intent of Sonia Gandhi and RJD chief, Lalu Yadav, who are upset with Nitish Kumar's "defection" in saying his party will vote for Kovind.
Opinion: With Low-Profile Kovind, Modi And Amit Shah Hit Bull’s EyeChandan Mitra
Wednesday June 21, 2017Mild mannered and a thorough gentleman, Kovind's choice by the BJP's helmsmen, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party president, Amit Shah, has once again been described as a masterstroke.
Opinion: With Kovind For President, Modi-Shah Have Made Ace MoveSwati Chaturvedi
Monday June 19, 2017The selection of Kovind proves that Modi and Shah do not take a moment off from 24/7 politics.
Opinion: How RSS And Amit Shah Are Plotting The Election For PresidentSwati Chaturvedi
Wednesday June 14, 2017For the thrice-banned RSS, it will be the ultimate validation when one of their own occupies Rashtrapati Bhavan, a point of immense satisfaction that will follow the appointment of Yogi Adityanath as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
- Reported by Sunil Prabhu, Edited by Aloke Tikku | Friday July 21, 2017 , New Delhi
The BJP has called the NDA's candidate Ram Nath Kovind's win in the presidential election a truly historic win. But the former governor who will become the country's second Dalit President may not be the only one setting records.
- Press Trust of India | Friday July 21, 2017 , New Delhi
The BJP on Thursday took a swipe at the opposition's presidential candidate Meira Kumar's claim of fighting an ideological contest, saying she represented the dynasty culture of the Congress while its candidate Ram Nath Kovind showed its commitment to the marginalised groups.
- Press Trust of India | Thursday July 20, 2017 , New Delhi
A total of 77 votes were declared invalid today during counting for the presidential election and the list of rejected ballots was topped by parliamentarians.
- Reported by Akhilesh Sharma,Anant R Zanane,Sunil Prabhu, Edited by Deepshikha Ghosh | Friday July 21, 2017 , New Delhi
Ram Nath Kovind's election as the next president of India was never in doubt but the large scale cross-voting in seven states throws up a big worry for the opposition, especially ahead of polls in Gujarat later this year.
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