- Title: India's BJP-backed candidate Kovind wins presidential election
- Date: 20th July 2017
- Summary: NEW DELHI, INDIA (JULY 20, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF INDIAN PARLIAMENT RETURNING OFFICER OF INDIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, ANOOP MISHRA, SITTING WITH OTHER OFFICIALS SITTING AND STANDING NEARBY (SOUNDBITE) (English) RETURNING OFFICER OF INDIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, ANOOP MISHRA, SAYING: "I, Anoop Mishra, the returning officer for the presidential election 2017, hereby declare that Shri (Mr.) Ram Nath Kovind, resident of 42 HIG Maharishi Dayanand Vihar, Phase-2, Kalyanpur, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has been duly elected to the office of the President of India." NEW DELHI, INDIA (JULY 20, 2017) (REUTERS) INDIA'S PRESIDENT-ELECT, RAM NATH KOVIND, WALKING TO PODIUM CAMERAMEN (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIA'S PRESIDENT-ELECT, RAM NATH KOVIND, SAYING: "I thank all my countrymen for today's election results. I am thankful to the public representatives of every part of the country for their faith in me." CAMERAMAN TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) INDIA'S PRESIDENT-ELECT, RAM NATH KOVIND, SAYING: "My selection to the president's position signifies the greatness of the Indian democracy. In this position, it is my duty to protect and uphold the dignity of the Constitution. I bow to all the citizens of the country and assure them that I will serve the country tirelessly, in the spirit that people of the world should live in peace and prosperity." NEW DELHI, INDIA (JULY 20, 2017) (REUTERS) INDIA'S PRESIDENTIAL PALACE INDIAN NATIONAL FLAG FLYING FROM TOP OF DOME OF PRESIDENTIAL PALACE VARIOUS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
- Embargoed: 3rd August 2017 14:51
- Keywords: Ram Nath Kovind President India India elections Meira Kumar Bharatiya Janata Party India president vote
- Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA
- City: NEW DELHI, INDIA
- Country: India
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016QIV1OV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Ram Nath Kovind, a low-caste politician backed by the ruling coalition, won India's presidential election on Thursday (July 20), tightening the governing alliance's hold on positions of power.
Votes from 4,896 lawmakers in state assemblies and parliament were counted in parliament to elect the constitutional head.
Kovind, 71, gained an overwhelming majority to beat Meira Kumar, also a low-caste Dalit candidate, who was backed by the centrist Congress party.
India's constitution provides a largely ceremonial role for the president, with the prime minister and his cabinet colleagues holding executive power. But the president acquires a key role during political crises, such as when a general election is inconclusive, by deciding which party is in the best position to form a government. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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