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Ram Nath Kovind got 65.6% of votes to beat opposition bet Meira Kumar
NEW DELHI – Ram Nath Kovind was elected as India's 14th President on Thursday, defeating opposition candidate Meira Kumar.
Kovind, 71, who is the second Dalit President of India after the late K.R. Narayanan, got 2,930 votes or 65.6 percent in a secret nationwide ballot that involved close to 5,000 central Parliament members and state legislatures while Kumar, who is also a member of the Dalit community, received 1,844 votes or 34 percent.
According to a CNN report, Dalits are often referred to as untouchables amd occupy the lowest rung on India's caste system. Traditionally viewed as "impure", Dalits continue to deal with persecution and exclusion.
Kovind is the first member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to become President since India gained its independence and also the first from Uttar Pradesh to be elected to the position.
Prior to his election, Kovind was governor of the eastern Indian state of Bihar.
Kovind, a lawyer by profession, practiced in both the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court, had never held office and lacks an independent power base.
He also served as the BJP national spokesman from 2010 to 2012.
Shortly after being declared winner, Kovind said it was an "emotional moment" for him. "I never dreamed of this position nor was it a goal. My election to this post is a message to all those who discharge their duties with honesty and integrity," he said.
Kovind vowed to uphold the Constitution of India and follow the policy of "Sarve Bhavantu Sukheenaha" (peace and prosperity to all).
Analysts interviewed by the media said while the post of President is ceremonial in nature, Kovind's election will strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi's grip on power.
The tenure of a President is five year.
As India's President, Kovind does not have executive authority. All decisions taken by the President need the approval of Modi and the council of ministers. 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