Droupadi Murmu Becomes India’s 15th President
India-West News Desk
NEW DELHI – The votes are in and tallied and Droupadi Murmu has been declared the 15th President of India.
After a day of counting, Murmu, the National Democratic Alliance’s candidate, emerged the winner against the opposition’s pick of Yashwant Sinha.
Murmu scooped up over 50 percent of the total vote value after just three rounds of counting, though the trends became clear after the first round where Murmu stood at 39 percent.
The winner of the Presidential election is not the candidate who gets only the most votes, but the one who crosses a quota. This quota is determined by adding votes polled for each candidate, divided by two, and adding ‘1’ to it. Basically, one more than 50 percent.
Counting of votes for the Presidential poll started on July 21 at Parliament House here.
“I heartily congratulate Droupadi Murmu on her victory in the Presidential Election 2022. I hope — indeed, every Indian hopes — that as the 15th President of India, she functions as the Custodian of the Constitution without fear or favor. I join my fellow countrymen in extending best wishes to her,” said Sinha while conceding defeat.
“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 Droupadi Murmu ji on this feat,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.
“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, marginalized and the downtrodden,” he said.
Immediately after June 21 when she was nominated by the NDA, Murmu’s victory seemed certain and her numbers got a boost with support from some opposition parties including the Biju Janata Dal, Shiv Sena, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, YSR Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party and Telegu Desam Party.
Murmu will be sworn into office on July 25 replacing Ram Nath Kovind.
HISTORIC
*India’s first tribal President
*Youngest occupant of Rashtrapati Bhavan
*Only the second woman to hold the office
*First President to be born after independence
*First President from state of Odisha
PERSONAL
*Was first woman Governor of Jharkhand
*Is a Santhal, third largest scheduled tribe community after Gonds and Bhils.
* Father and grandfather were village headmen
* In 2009, 25-year-old son dies, months later another son killed in car crash, husband dies of depression a year later. Has o
