Pranab Mukherjee will take over as the next President of India on Wednesday. Mr Mukherjee will be administered the oath of office by the Chief Justice of India at the Central Hall of Parliament.
The 76-year old UPA nominee was declared elected at the end of counting of votes at the Parliament House on Sunday. Pranab Mukherjee has scripted history by becoming the first person from West Bengal to be elected as the President of India. He defeated his opponent, former Lok Sabha speaker P A Sangma, with a huge margin of about 70 per cent to be elected as the 13th President of the country.
VK Agnihotri, Rajya Sabha Secretary General, who is also the Returning Officer for the Presidential Elections, said while Mr Mukherjee polled vote value worth over 7,13,000, Mr Sangma polled worth over 3,15,000 vote value.
Mr Mukherjee thanked the people for their overwhelming support.
Vice-President Mohammed Hamid Ansari congratulated Mr Mukherjee over phone. Prime Minister 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. DMK President M Karunanidhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also congratulated him.
Mr Sangma and the BJP also congratulated Mr. Mukherjee. BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said Mr Mukherjee was a respected person and he would enhance the glory of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Industry bodies CII, FICCI and Assocham also congratulated Mr Mukherjee.
Meanwhile, members of both Houses of Parliament are to give a warm send-off to outgoing President Pratibha Devisingh Patil today evening. A programme is scheduled to take place in the historic Central Hall of Parliament.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, BJP veteran LK Advani and several Union Ministers and political leaders attended the farewell 'At Home' hosted by Mrs. Patil on Sunday.
All India Radio, Delhi, will broadcast Live the farewell function being organised today in the honour of President Mrs. This will be available on the National network at 5.25 PM onwards.
