By: Shubham Ghosh
DROUPADI Murmu, who was backed by the National Democratic Alliance led by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, is set to be elected as the 15th president of India, having already got 50 per cent of the total value of valid votes at the end of the third round of counting.
She will become the first tribal and second woman president (after Pratibha Patil) of the republic and will succeed incumbent Ram Nath Kovind.
Modi congratulated Murmu tweeting, “Smt. 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.” He also went to the residence of the president-elect.
Smt. 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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 21, 2022
In another tweet, Modi said, “India scripts history”.
India scripts history. 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 Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji on this feat.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 21, 2022
Briefing the media, Rajya Sabha secretary general PC Mody, who is returning officer for the election, said Murmu got 2,161 votes whose electoral value is 5,77,777.
“Up to this round, the cumulative total is – total valid votes is 3,219 with a total value of 8,38,839 of which Droupadi Murmu gets 2,161 votes of the value of 5,77,777. Yashwant Sinha (her opponent) get 1058 votes of the value of 2,61,062,” Mody said.
He said the states covered in the third round are Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha and Punjab.
“In this round, total valid votes 1,333. Total value of valid votes is 1,65,664. Droupadi Murmu got 812 votes, Yashwant Sinha got 521 votes,” Mody said.
The village of Rairangpur in the eastern Indian state of Odisha — the native place of Murmu — erupted in celebrations in anticipation of Droupadi Murmu’s victory.
#WATCH | Celebrations break out outside NDA presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu's residence in Delhi as she crosses the 50% mark of the total valid votes at the end of the third round of counting in the election. pic.twitter.com/1uMpQKmSoq
— ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2022
A large crowd gathered outside BJP headquarters in Delhi in celebration earlier on Wednesday (20) evening.
The election was held on July 18.
Sinha congratulated Murmu in a tweet post saying, “I join my fellow citizens in congratulating Smt Droupadi Murmu on her victory in the Presidential Election 2022. India hopes that as the 15th President of the Republic she functions as the Custodian of the Constitution without fear or favour.”
I join my fellow citizens in congratulating Smt Droupadi Murmu on her victory in the Presidential Election 2022.
India hopes that as the 15th President of the Republic she functions as the Custodian of the Constitution without fear or favour. pic.twitter.com/0gG3pdvTor
— Yashwant Sinha (@YashwantSinha) July 21, 2022