Ram Nath Kovind is set for an easy win in today's election for the next President of India versus Meira Kumar, with the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance confident that the former Bihar Governor will get about 70 per cent of the vote. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has been fielded by the opposition, which has pitched the contest as a battle of ideologies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was among the first to vote in Parliament this morning, has congratulated Mr Kovind in advance and has said that "the presidential poll this time is historic. Probably for the first time no party made any undignified or unwarranted comment on the rival candidate."
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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.
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.
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.
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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