**Bhubaneswar: ** BJP-led NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind is the 14th President of Republic of India by trouncing his contender Meria Kumar who was former Speaker of Lok Sabha during the Congress-led UPA regime.
Lok Sabha secretary-general, Anoop Mishra said, “Ram Nath Kovind has been elected as the new President of India.”
He defeated Congress-led UPA presidential nominee Meira Kumar by bagging 65.65% (7,2,644) votes crossing the magic number.
Meira Kumar bagged only 34.35% (3,67,314) votes.
In an electoral college of 4,986 voters with a vote value of 10,98,903, Kovind got 2,930 votes carrying a value of 7,00,244, while the former Lok Sabha Speaker secured 1,844 votes with a value of 3,67,314.
The presidential poll was held on July 17 for which the counting of votes was held in the Parliament today since 11 am.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is on his 5-day tour to the national capital, congratulated Kovind on his victory taking to his twitter handle.
Congratulate Shri Ramnath Kovind ji on being elected President of India. We look forward to work under his leadership at @RashtrapatiBhvn pic.twitter.com/4voQoxHHYF
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 20, 2017