National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Droupadi Murmu has been elected as the 15th President of India. She succeeded Ram Nath Kovind by defeating joint Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha by a huge margin, to become the first tribal woman President of India.
While, the NDA candidate got 6,76,803 total votes, the Opposition candidate bagged 3,80,177 in the 16th Presidential election.
The new President will take oath on July 25, as per the Election Commission of India schedule.
Meanwhile, Yashwant Sinha, accepting his defeat, took to Twitter to congratulate Droupadi Murmu on her victory.
"I join my fellow citizens in congratulating Smt Droupadi Murmu on her victory in the Presidential Election 2022. India hopes that as the 15th President of the Republic she functions as the Custodian of the Constitution without fear or favour," Sinha tweeted.
Also, congratulating Droupadi Murmu on her win, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India has scripted a history.
"India scripts history. At a time when 1.3 billion Indians are marking Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, a daughter of India hailing from a tribal community born in a remote part of eastern India has been elected our President! Congratulations to Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji on this feat," PM Modi tweeted.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also tweeted: "Hearty Congratulations to Smt. Draupadi Murmu ji on being elected as the President of India. Your role in giving voice to hopes & aspirations of people is exemplary. I hope under your able guidance, people of our country will make a leading contribution in building a New India."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also took to Twitter to congratulate Droupadi Murmu on her victory. "Congratulations and best wishes to Smt. Droupadi Murmu ji on being elected as the 15th President of India," he posted on Twitter.
Polling for the Presidential election 2022 was held on Monday, July 18 at the Parliament House and in each of the 30 places of poll in State Legislative Assemblies, including Legislative Assembly of NCT of Delhi and UT of Puducherry.
The Election to the office of President of the lndian Republic is one of the most important elections, which the Election Commission of India conducts vide the mandate of Article 324 of the Constitution of lndia.
As per Article 54 of the Constitution, the President of India is elected by the Members of an Electoral College consisting of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament, and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of all states, including National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry. The Members nominated to either House of Parliament or the Legislative Assemblies of states, including NCT of Delhi and Union Territory of Puducherry, are not eligible to be included in the Electoral College.
According to the ECI, out of a total of 771 MPs entitled to vote (five vacant) and similarly out of total 4,025 MLAs entitled to vote (six vacant and two disqualified), over 99 per cent cast their votes to elect the 15th President of India. However, 100 per cent voting by MLAs was reported from Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Puducherry, Sikkim and Tamil Nadu.
