Ram Nath Kovind, the country’s president-elect, will take the oath of office administered by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar on Tuesday. Kovind will be sworn-in as the 14th President of India. A low-key lawyer-turned-politician, Kovind was elected on Thursday as the president — the first BJP member and second Dalit to occupy the country’s highest office. The 71-year-old defeated joint Opposition candidate Meira Kumar, a former Lok Sabha speaker, after garnering 65.65 percent of the votes in the electoral college. The president-elect and the outgoing President Pranab Mukherjee will arrive in the Central Hall of the Parliament House in a ceremonial procession, where Kovind will be administered oath. [caption id=“attachment_3852573” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
File image of Ram Nath Kovind. Reuters[/caption] He will then exchange seats with Mukherjee. A 21-gun salute will be given in his honour and the new president will then deliver his address, according to IANS. Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Union ministers, governors, chief ministers, ambassadors and other diplomats, MPs and senior civil and military officers will be among those present. After the ceremony ends, the new president will leave for Rashtrapati Bhavan where an inter-services guard of honour will be given to him in its forecourt. Mukherjee will leave for his new address, 10 Rajaji Marg. Earlier in the day, Kovind will visit Rajghat to pay his respect to Mahatma Gandhi and then go to Rashtrapati Bhavan where he will be received by Mukherjee and then both will proceed to Parliament. A former Bihar governor, Kovind received 2930 votes with a value of 7,02,044, election Returning Officer Anoop Mishra had said. Kumar got 1844 votes with a value of 3,67,314. The winning margin was not as big as forecast by the BJP, which had projected a 70 percent vote for Kovind. Outgoing President Pranab Mukherjee had received votes valued at 7,13,763. “I never aspired to be the president. My win is a message to those discharging their duties with integrity. My election as the President is an evidence of the greatness of Indian democracy,” Kovind had told the media after his victory was announced. Kovind’s victory is partly due to the BJP’s massive victory in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections earlier this year. This gave the party a big boost in the electoral college numbers, according to PTI. Even after the Uttar Pradesh victory, the BJP-led NDA was slightly short of majority. However, it was able to garner support of several non-NDA parties such as TRS in Telangana, AIADMK factions and DMK in Tamil Nadu, the JD(U) in Bihar, and BJD in Odisha, after appointing a non-controversial Dalit leader in a political masterstroke. The party’s decision to field a Dalit candidate is also being seen as part of its outreach to woo the backward communities, which several opposition parties found difficult to oppose, given the political sensitivites. This forced the opposition to follow suit and put up Kumar, a diplomat- turned-politician, in a Dalit vs Dalit fight. With inputs from agencies
As it happened: Ram Nath Kovind takes oath as 14th president, says diversity is key for India
Ram Nath Kovind will take the oath administered by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar on Tuesday to be sworn-in as the 14th President of India.
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Kovind now ceremonial owner of 51 percent of all govt PSUs
The Economic Times in an article stated an interesting fact: Newly sworn-in President Ram Nath Kovind, as the head of government, has now become the ceremonial owner of 51 percent of all central government PSUs worth lakh of crores.
Very inspiring address by Ram Nath Kovind_ji_: Narendra Modi
Watch: Ram Nath Kovind gets 21-gun salute at Rashtrapati Bhavan
How the change of guard at the Rashtrapati Bhavan unfolded
The elaborate ceremony for change of guard in India’s highest Constitutional office started with a gentle knock on the door of President-elect Ram Nath Kovind’s Akbar Road residence.
It was Military Secretary to the President, Major General Anil Khosla, inviting 71-year-old Kovind and his wife Savita to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Pranab Mukherjee was waiting for them in the study.
The two leaders then went to the grand Rashtrapai Bhavan forecourt where they were escorted to the saluting dais.
Mukherjee took the last salute of the President’s Bodyguard (PBG) with President-elect Kovind standing to his left.
He and his successor then drove down Raisina Hill to the Central Hall of the Parliament in a black limousine. Escorting them was grand equestrian procession by the PBG, dressed in white ceremonial uniforms and blue turbans with gold ornamental work.
The road from Rashtrapati Bhavan to Parliament was lined with jawans of the armed forces. — PTI
People celebrate in president’s village
India must carry forward its legacy of Vasudev Kutumbakam: Ram Nath Kovind
“I am accepting this position with all humility and I am grateful for this responsibility,” he further said. “I am aware that I’m carrying forward the legacy of great leaders like Dr Rajendra Prasad,” he added.
Development needs to reach the most backward communities: Kovind
“The teachers who inspiring youth are nation-builders. Several women who are looking after their families and making their children proud citizens this country are nation-builders,” said Kovind as he said that we need to be proud of all occupations in India.
“It will only be right that India strives for peace and equality in the world,” he further said.
“We have achieved a lot by being one nation, But we need to strive for more and for better,” Kovind said.
“We constantly need to think about whether development in the country reaches the person stand last in a line or in the most backward community,” he said.
Kovind changes Twitter handle to @rashtrapatibhvn, Pranab Mukherjee’s account turns into archive
We are different but we are one: Kovind
“We are in the 21st century. We all believe that this century belongs to India,” Kovind said in the Central Hall of the Parliament.
“India is full of variety. We are all very different but we are one,” he said.
“21st century India will be a country that will combine our earlier values and traditions with modern ideas,” he also said.
“Nation-building cannot be done only through government. The government can only be a guide. National pride is what contributes to nation-building,” Kovind said.
“We are proud of every citizen of India and also of even the smallest of livelihoods,” he said.
Ram Nath Kovind tweets for the first time as the President of India
Disagreements beauty of democracy: Kovind
“I am taking charge of this post with humility,” said Kovind.
“It was in this central hall that I had discussions with many of you. We’ve had our agreements and disagreements but we learnt to respect each others’ views This is the beauty of democracy,” he said.
“I want people to know that I will fulfill my duties towards them,” he said.
Honoured to be sworn-in as president: Ram Nath Kovind
Kovind reaches Parliament
Ram Nath Kovind — along with Pranab Mukherjee, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Chief Justice of India JS Khehar — entered the Parliament.
Watch: Ram Nath Kovind leaves for Parliament, will take oath soon
Kovind about to reach Parliament
Pranab Mukherjee given farewell in Rashtrapati Bhavan
Watch ANI’s live broadcast of the swearing-in ceremony here:
Lok Sabha adjourned till 3 pm
The proceedings of the Lok Sabha were adjoured till 3.00 PM today to allow members and ministers participate in the swearing-in ceremony of Ramnath Kovind as the 14th President of India.
The House was scheduled to run for a few minutes but as noisy protests mounted by opposition members over cow vigilantes and lynching erupted, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan decided to adjourn the proceedings just when the first question was being taken up in the Question Hour. — PTI
Watch: Kovind meets Mukherjee
How to watch live broadcast of oath-taking ceremony
National broadcaster Doordarshan will air the ceremony starting 11 am.
For more details, click here .
Kovind joins Twitter as @RBhavan14
Ceremony to take place in Central Hall of Parliament, CJI to give oath to Kovind
Kovind’s family arrives at Parliament
Watch the live broadcast of Ram Nath Kovind’s swearing-in ceremony here:
Kovind pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat
Ram Nath Kovind leaves for Rajghat