Ramnath Kovind becomes 14th President of India

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NDA’s nominee Shri Ramnath Kovind won presidential election by more than two-thirds of the total electoral college votes. Shri Ramnath Kovind secured over 65% of votes over rival Meira Kumar, who was backed by the Congress and other opposition parties. Shri Kovind received 2930 votes with a value of 7,02,044. He became the first BJP member who was elected as the President of India.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi personally met President elect Shri Ramnath Kovind and congratulated him.BJP National President Shri Amit Shah hailed as “historic” the election of NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind as the next president and said “It is a victory for the poor, downtrodden and marginalised and their aspirations”.

BJP Senior leader Shri L K Advani congratulated President-elect Shri Ram Nath Kovind on his victory. Soon after he came to know of Shri Kovind’s win in the presidential election, Shri Advani spoke to him and gave him his best wishes.

AIADMK’s Panneerselvam expressed “great joy” on Shri Kovind winning the presidential polls. “Having been elected as the first citizen of India, we wish Mr Ramnath Kovind name and fame due to his skill and service,” Panneerselvam said in a statement.

How the change of guard at the Rashtrapati  Bhavan unfolded

Shri Ramnath Kovind took oath on July 25 as President of India in grand ceremony attended by highest dignitaries like Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Vice President Shri Hamid Ansari, Lok Sabha Speaker Smt. Sumitra Mahajan and members of parliament and other dignitaries.

The elaborate ceremony for change of guard in India’s highest Constitutional office started with a gentle knock on the door of President-elect Shri 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.

Shri 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. (With inputs from PTI)

Profile

koivind-porttrait

A lawyer, veteran political representative and long-time advocate of egalitarianism and integrity in Indian public life and society, Shri Ram Nath Kovind was born on October 1, 1945, in Paraunkh, near Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. His parents were Shri Maiku Lal and Smt Kalawati.

Before assuming charge of the office of the 14th President of India on July 25, 2017, Shri Kovind served as the 36th Governor of the state of Bihar from August 16, 2015, to June 20, 2017.

Educational and Professional Background

Shri Kovind completed his school education in Kanpur and obtained the degrees of B.Com and L.L.B. from Kanpur University. In 1971, he enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi.

Shri Kovind was Union Government Advocate in the Delhi High Court from 1977 to 1979 and Union Government Standing Counsel in the Supreme Court from 1980 to 1993. He became Advocate-on-Record of the Supreme Court of India in 1978. He practised at the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court for 16 years till 1993.

Parliamentary and Public Life

Shri Kovind was elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in April 1994. He served for two consecutive terms of six years each till March 2006. Shri Kovind served on various Parliamentary Committees like Parliamentary Committee on Welfare of Scheduled Castes/Tribes; Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs; Parliamentary Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas; Parliamentary Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment; and Parliamentary Committee on Law and Justice. He was Chairman of the Rajya Sabha House Committee.

Shri Kovind also served as Member of the Board of Management of the Dr B.R Ambedkar University, Lucknow, and Member of the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata. He was part of the Indian delegation at the United Nations and addressed the United Nations General Assembly in October 2002.

Positions Held

2015-17: Governor of Bihar
1994-2006: Member of the Rajya Sabha, representing the state of Uttar Pradesh
1971-75 and 1981: General Secretary, Akhil Bharatiya Koli Samaj
1977-79: Union Government Advocate at the Delhi High Court
1982-84: Union Government Junior Counsel in the Supreme Court

Shri Kovind married Smt Savita Kovind on May 30, 1974. They have a son, Shri Prashant Kumar, and a daughter, Miss Swati. An avid reader, the President has keen interest in reading books on politics and social change, law and history, and religion.
During his long public career, Shri Kovind has travelled widely across the country. He has also visited Thailand, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Germany, Switzerland, France, the United Kingdom and the United States in his capacity as a Member of Parliament.

@narendramodi
“Congratulations to Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji on being elected the President of India! Best wishes for a fruitful & inspiring tenure. Gladdened by the extensive support for Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji among MPs & across various states. I thank members of the electoral college. I also congratulate Meira Kumar Ji for her campaign, which was in spirit of the democratic ethos & values we all are proud of.”

@AmitShah
“Congratulations to Shri Ram Nath Kovind ji for the emphatic victory in the 2017 Presidential elections. His victory is truly historic. I am sure Shri Ram Nath Kovind ji will distinguish himself as an exceptional President of our nation. The election of Shri Ram Nath Kovind ji is a victory for the poor, downtrodden & marginalised and their aspirations. I thank BJP members, NDA family, other valued parties and leaders who supported Shri Ram Nath Kovind ji,” said Shah.