Pranab Mukherjee is India's next President. The 76-year old UPA nominee was declared elected with a thumping majority at the end of counting of votes at the Parliament House today. Mr Mukherjee defeated the 64-year-old former Lok Sabha Speaker, P A Sangma.
Announcing the results after completion of counting of votes, Dr V K Agnihotri, Rajya Sabha Secretary General, who is also the Returning Officer for the Presidential Elections, said Mr Mukherjee has polled the vote value of over Seven lakh 13 thousand as against the votes polled worth over 3 lakh 15 thousand by Mr Sangma in the election to the top Constitutional post.
In an interaction with the people at his New Delhi residence, Mr Mukherjee thanked the people for their overwhelming support. He expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation for conferring the distinction by electing him to the country's highest office.
Mr Mukherjee assured that he will justify the responsibility entrusted to him in protecting, defending and preserving the country's Constitution.
Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari congratulated Mr Mukherjee over phone. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Lok Sabha Speaker, Meira Kumar, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi and several union ministers were among those who congratulated Mr Mukherjee at his official residence.
The West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also congratulated Mr Mukherjee over the phone. Sangma also congratulated Mr. Mukherjee on being elected as the next President of India.
Mr Mukherjee will be administered the oath of office by the Chief Justice of India on Wednesday at the historic Central Hall of Parliament.
AIR correspondent reports that the official residence of Mr Mukherjee in the capital is agog with celebrations to mark the occasion.
Born on 11h December 1935 at Mirati village in West Bengal, Mr Pranab Mukherjee holds a Master of Arts degree in History and Political Science and also a degree in law from the University of Calcutta. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by the University of Wolverhampton in 2011.
Mr Mukherjee began his career as an Upper Division clerk in the Office of the Deputy Accountant General in Post and Telegraph department at Kolkatta before he became a college teacher and later a journalist.
He began his political career with the Indian National Congress in 1969 under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi before becoming a cabinet minister in her government in 1973. During his over 43 years of political career, Mr Mukherjee held several cabinet portfolios including commerce, Finance and External Affairs. He was also the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.
Mr Mukherjee has several accolades and honors to his credit. In 1984, he was rated as the best Finance Minister in the world according to a survey of Euromoney magazine. In 2010, he was awarded Finance Minister of the year for asia by Emerging Markets, the daily newspaper of record for the World Bank and the IMF. He was also honoured with Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award in 2008.
Several leaders have congratulated Mr. Pranab Mukherjee on his victory. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that the nation will benefit from his vast experience. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akilesh Yadav has expressed confidence that the country will progress under his leadership.
AIR Kolkata correspondent reports, Miriti at Birbhum district in West Bengal – the native village of Pranab Mukherjee, is reeling under joy as the news spread that one of the resident of the village is going to occupy the highest constitutional post of the country. People exchanged sweets and burst out fire crackers to celebrate the occasion. His Parliamentary constituency Jangipur in Murshidabad district also witnessed joyful moments. People took out processions carrying pictures of Pranab Mukherjee to mark the day.
The BJP congratulated the President-elect Pranab Mukherjee for his victory. Talking to media after the announcement of the results party spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said Mr Mukherjee is a respected person and he will enhance the glory of Rashtrapati Bhavan. He said his party will go into the reasons for cross-voting from Karnataka where the UPA candidate got more votes than his rival in the Presidential election from a party-ruled state.
