India’s Mukherjee elected president

“I want to express my deep gratitude and appreciation to the people of India. I thank all the people of India. I received much more from the people of this country than I have given in my nearly five decades of public life,” a jubilant Mukherjee told the media after the emphatic win.
The 77-year-old also thanked Sangma for congratulating him after his win.
“I wish him well,” he added.
Mukherjee will be sworn in as the country’s 13th president by the Chief Justice of India on Wednesday, succeeding the incumbent head of state Pratibha Patil whose five-year term ends that day.
India’s president is the ceremonial head of state who has little role to play in the country’s politics and government.
The president is elected by an electoral college comprising Members of Parliament and state legislators.
After the news of his win flashed across the Indian media, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, ruling Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Nehru-Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi were among the top leaders who came to his home in the national capital to greet him.
Earlier in the day, Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Defence Minister A.K. Antony met him to apprise him of his lead in the poll as counting was on.
Mukherjee, who was nominated by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance to contest the presidential poll held on July 19, held key portfolios like defence and foreign ministries in his political career spanning over 43 years.
Sangma, who was nominated by the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance, conceded defeat and congratulated Mukherjee on his win. But he added, “the country failed to elevate a tribal leader to the president’s post”.
The BJP also congratulated Mukherjee on his win. “We congratulate him for making it to the Rashtrapati Bhawan (Presidential House),” a party spokesperson said.
A native of the eastern state of West Bengal, Mukherjee holds masters degrees in history and political science, apart from a degree in law from Calcutta University.
He started his career as a government official before taking up teaching profession and then finally joining politics. — Xinhua.