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The counting for the presidential election held on Monday will start on Thursday and the name of the next occupant of the Rashtrapati Bhawan would be known by 5.00 pm, according to reports. According to Lok Sabha secretary general Anoop Mishra, who is also the returning officer of the election, the counting would begin at 11 am. First, the ballot box of Parliament House would be opened, and then, the ballot boxes received from states would be counted on alphabetical basis. [caption id=“attachment_3833051” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Meira Kumar (left) and Ram Nath Kovind. Agencies[/caption] Officials said all preparations have been made for the vote count and that all ballot boxes have already reached Parliament House by Tuesday evening amid tight security, according to IANS. The votes would be counted on four separate tables and there would be eight rounds of counting. An Election Commission official who has witnessed previous two presidential polls said that usually, results are declared at around 5 pm. Close to 99 percent voting was recorded for electing India’s next president. The numbers are stacked in favour of the ruling coalition’s nominee Ram Nath Kovind over the Opposition’s candidate Meira Kumar. Thirty two polling stations including the one in Parliament house, were set up in various states. Officials said the seals of ballot boxes will be opened on Thursday in the presence of representatives of the two candidates — former Bihar Governor Kovind and former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar — and the observers of the Election Commission. A total of 4,896 voters — 4,120 MLAs and 776 elected MPs — were eligible to cast their ballot. MLCs of states with legislative council are not part of the electoral college. While the value of an MLA’s vote depends on the population of the state he or she belongs to, the value of an MP’s vote remains the same at 708. The total value of votes of the presidential electoral college is 10,98,903, and the NDA candidate is slated to get over 63 percent votes. In the last presidential election in 2012, Pranab Mukherjee had defeated PA Sangma and got over 69 percent votes.
Presidential election 2017 results highlights: Ram Nath Kovind defeats Meira Kumar, to become next President of India
The counting for the presidential election will start and the name of the next occupant of the Rashtrapati Bhawan would be known by 5.00 pm.
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Sumitra Mahajan expresses hope that Kovind will work for all
Kovind’s victory marks an important milestone in political history: Mufti
Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal congratulates Kovind over phone
How easy was it for Ram Nath Kovind to win the election?
PM Modi felicitates Kovind
Pranab Mukherjee sends his wishes to Kovind
In pictures: Modi meets Kovind and congratulates him for the win
A wave of joy sweeps Kovind’s hometown
From burning lamps using ghee, distributing sweets to welcoming guests with ‘gulaal’ and flowers, a festive spirit permeated the atmosphere in Jhinjhak, 160 kilometres from Lucknow. Family members of the newly-elected president, who will go to Delhi by train on 23 July, have already started buying clothes for the swearing in ceremony.
Ram Nath Kovind is known for his organisational skills and easy demeanor
Stepping away from quietude to the spotlight of constant scrutiny that comes with being the country’s first citizen, Kovind was picked for the job by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) from Raj Bhavan in Patna, where he had struck an easy working relationship with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar.
It was perhaps Kovind’s non-confrontational approach to politics that led the JD(U) chief to back him for the president’s office even though he had been critical of his appointment as the governor, but later it led to the curious situation of the party endorsing the opposition’s candidate Gopalkrishna Gandhi for the vice president’s post.
This easy demeanour has stood the Kanpur-born former lawyer in good stead, say political watchers. He is not just a Dalit leader, but is known for his organisational skills and is a loyal member of the BJP, attributes that not many in the larger NDA family can boast of.
PTI
Devendra Fadnavis sends his wishes
Never aspired to be the president: Ram Nath Kovind
After his landslide win, Ram Nath Kovind said that he never aspired to become the president of India and his win is a message to those discharging their duties with integrity.
Nitish Kumar congratulates Ram Nath Kovind
Meira Kumar represented Congress’ dynasty culture: BJP
BJP spokesperson GVL Narsimha Rao said there were many to say that it was indeed an ideological contest with the NDA’s “merit-based” selection pitted against the dynasty promoted by the Congress-led alliance.
The Congress stood for “fake” slogans of Dalit empowerment as it did not field a Dalit when its candidate won the presidential elections in 2007 and 2012, he said.
Yogi Adityanath and Nitin Gadkari congratulate Kovind
Watch Meira Kumar’s entire speech here
Best wishes with #PresidentKovind as it has fallen upon him to uphold Constitution in letter & spirit in these challenging times: #MeiraKumar pic.twitter.com/1pPIoAAq9Z
— News18 (@CNNnews18) July 20, 2017
Meira Kumar thanks everyone who voted for her
“I want to thank all members of collegium who have voted for me and all those who unanimously made me a candidate in this election. I want to thank all the citizens who supported me,” Kumar said.
Here’s a look at all the presidents of India
Meira Kumar congratulates Kovind, vows to continue fighting for secularism
Watch Ram Nath Kovind’s entire speech
#PresidentKovind This is an emotional time for me. Would like to thank and congratulate Oppn candidate #MeiraKumar : President #RamNathKovind pic.twitter.com/bB6nbxp5iR
— News18 (@CNNnews18) July 20, 2017
It is a very emotional moment for me: Ram Nath Kovind
“I want to tell the people that Ram Nath Kovind is going to the Rashtrapati Bhawan as a representative of the poor,” said Kovind. He added that protecting the Constitution is his responsibility now.
Visuals from Ram Nath Kovind’s house
Wishes pour in for Ram Nath Kovind
Narendra Modi shares old picture with Kovind, says an honour to know him
Ram Nath Kovind is the 14th President of India: All you need to know about him
Kovind has a long career in politics behind him. He has headed the BJP’s Dalit Morcha and is among one of the few Dalit faces the party could boast of in it’s folds in north India. The party has also nominated him as its Rajya Sabha MP from the Hindi heartland twice in the past, where he enjoyed consecutive terms from 1994 for the next 12 year till March, 2006.
Read the entire article here
Narendra Modi congratulates Ram Nath Kovind and Meira Kumar
Win of Ram Nath Kovind is a victory for the poor: Amit Shah
The final picture after the counting
Ravi Shankar Prasad congratulates Kovind
BJP workers celebrate Kovind’s win
Anoop Mishra announces the next President of India
#BREAKING — #RamNathKovind has been elected as the new President of India: Anoop Mishra, Secretary-General Lok Sabha #PresidentKovind pic.twitter.com/exM7yeKma8
— News18 (@CNNnews18) July 20, 2017
Ram Nath Kovind’s hometown celebrates his win
#PresidentialPolls — #RamNathKovind ’s hometown, Kanpur, erupts in joy after the big win #PresidentKovind pic.twitter.com/hBeZQC70Sr
— News18 (@CNNnews18) July 20, 2017
Here’s the vote break-up
Meira Kumar: 3,67,314
Ram Nath Kovind: 7,02,044
Total votes cast: 10,69,358
Cross-voting in Gujarat, Assam, Goa, Maharashta and Uttar Pradesh helped Kovind win
Final count of the Presidential election
Here’s how Delhi voted
