by: NavJeevan

Droupadi Murmu elected India’s next President; she is the first tribal woman to hold the top constitutional post

NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, JULY 21

Jharkhand Governor Droupadi Murmu has won the election for the post of President of India. She will be the first tribal woman elected to the top office. She is expected to sworn in as President of India on July 25.

Murmu, 64, the Presidential candidate of the ruling NDA. She defeated the Opposition’s candidate Yashwant Sinha.

Murmu won by an overwhelming margin against Sinha after receiving over 64 per cent valid votes in a day-long counting of ballots of MPs and MLAs, comprising the electoral college.

After the end of the counting process that continued for more than 10 hours, returning officer PC Mody declared Murmu as the winner and said that she got 6,76,803 votes against Sinha’s 3,80,177 votes.

Murmu’s victory was sealed after the third round when the returning officer announced that Murmu had already received over 53 percent of the total valid votes even as ballots from 10 states and Union territories were still being counted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reacting to Murmu’s win, said he is “certain she will be an outstanding President who will lead from the front”.

“Droupadi Murmu ji’s life, her early struggles, her rich service and her exemplary success motivates each and every Indian. She has emerged as a ray of hope for our citizens, especially the poor, marginalised and the downtrodden,” Modi said.

“Murmu ji has been an outstanding MLA and Minister. She had an excellent tenure as Jharkhand Governor. I am certain she will be an outstanding President who will lead from the front and strengthen India’s development journey,” Modi added.

Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha congratulated the President-elect Droupadi Murmu in his twitter handle.