Accessibility links

Breaking News

India's Mukherjee Claims Presidential Poll Victory


India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, left, poses for a picture with the newly elected President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi, July 22, 2012.
India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, left, poses for a picture with the newly elected President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi, July 22, 2012.
The presidential candidate for India's ruling coalition, Pranab Mukherjee, has declared victory in last week's poll.

Indian media report the Congress Party leader has garnered enough votes cast by national and state legislators to become India's 13th president.

He thanked cheering supporters outside his New Delhi home on Sunday and expressed his gratitude to the people of India.

The presidential post in India is largely ceremonial.

The 76-year-old resigned as finance minister last month to run for president. He previously served as India's foreign affairs minister and defense minister.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

  • 16x9 Image

    VOA News

    The Voice of America provides news and information in more than 40 languages to an estimated weekly audience of over 326 million people. Stories with the VOA News byline are the work of multiple VOA journalists and may contain information from wire service reports.

XS
SM
MD
LG