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. Mr Mukherjee defeated 64-year-old former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma. 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, All India Radio, Delhi, will broadcast Live the farewell function being organised today in the honour of President Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil by the Members of Parliament in the Central Hall of Parliament House. This will be available on the National network at 5.25 PM onwards.