New Delhi: The NDA’s candidate Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday became the 14th President of India. Mr Kovind trounced his rival and Opposition candidate Meira Kumar by securing 65.65 per cent of the votes.
BJP chief Amit Shah hailed Mr Kovind’s victory as “historic” and added that it was the “victory for the poor, downtrodden and marginalised and their aspirations”. Ms Kumar tweeted her congratulations, “I congratulate Sh. Ram Nath Kovindji for becoming the President of India. My best wishes are with Sh. Kovindji as it has fallen upon him to uphold the Constitution in letter and spirit in these challenging times (sic)”. The total value of votes polled by Mr Kovind was 7,02,044, while Ms Kumar got 3,67,314. What raised eyebrows was cross-voting in favour of NDA’s candidate.
Cross-voting in favour of Mr Kovind was witnessed in Goa, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he was “gladdened by the extensive support for Ram Nath Kovind Ji among MPs and across various states”.
At least three out of 16 Congress MLAs in Goa voted for Mr Kovind in the presidential poll, preferring him to Ms Meira Kumar.
Admitting the occurrence of cross-voting during the July 17 presidential election, a senior Congress leader said a special meeting of the party’s legislature party has been called on Friday.
After the results of the election were announced on Thursday, the Congress has found that three of its MLAs voted for Kovind whereas two votes were found invalid, he said.
