Meira Kumar congratulates Ram Nath Kovind, says it falls on him to 'uphold Constitution in challenging times'

New Delhi: The Opposition’s presidential nominee Meira Kumar on Thursday congratulated her poll rival Ram Nath Kovind for winning the election and said it had fallen on him to uphold the Constitution in letter and spirit in “these “challenging times”.

I congratulate Sh. Ram Nath Kovindji for becoming the President of India. 1/2

— Meira Kumar (@meira_kumar) July 20, 2017

Kumar said her fight for secularism, the oppressed and the marginalised would continue.

My fight for secularism, the oppressed & the marginalised continues.I thank all my well wishers for their support & good wishes.

— Meira Kumar (@meira_kumar) July 20, 2017

The former Lok Sabha speaker polled 1844 votes with a value of 367314 as against Kovind’s 2930 votes with a value of 702044 (more than 65 percent votes).

My best wishes are with Sh. Kovindji as it has fallen upon him to uphold the Constitution in letter & spirit in these challenging times. 2/2

— Meira Kumar (@meira_kumar) July 20, 2017

“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 & spirit in these challenging times,” she tweeted. Kumar thanked the leaders of 17 opposition parties, including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, for fielding her as their consensus candidate and also members of the collegium comprising MPs and MLAs who voted for her.

I want to thank all the members of the collegium, Smt Sonia Gandhiji & leaders of all the political parties who have supported me. 1/2

— Meira Kumar (@meira_kumar) July 20, 2017

“My fight for secularism, the oppressed & the marginalised continues.I thank all my well wishers for their support & good wishes,” she added.