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The race to become the Rashtrapati Bhawan ended today as NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind was announced as the 14th President of India, after the polls were assimilated and counted.

Close to 4800 members of parliament and state assemblies casted their votes to choose between Ram Nath Kovind and Meira Kumar on Monday.

Counting began at 11 am with the ballot box of Parliament House being opened first, followed by the ones received from all the states.

The presidential poll was nearly 99 per cent voting. Polling was held simultaneously at 32 polling stations — one in Parliament House and one each in 29 state assemblies and two union territories with assemblies.

Ram Nath Kovind: An inspiring past

Ram Nath Kovind is a former Bihar Governor and has served two terms as a member of the Rajya Sabha. He is also a trained lawyer who has appeared at the High Court and Supreme Court. A farmer’s son, Ram Nath Kovind’s win is enough proof that dedication and hard work pay off.

Mr Kovind is the second Dalit President of India after KR Narayanan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to congratulate Ram Nath Kovind on winning the elections. “Congratulations to Shri Ram Nath Kovind Ji on being elected the President of India! Best wishes for a fruitful & inspiring tenure.”

He also shared a picture with President Kovind dated 20 years ago and a present picture.

The defeated candidate Meira Kumar also congratulated Ram Nath Kovind on the big win. She said the ideological battle will continue.

“We have fought a principled fight… we are fighting for values that most people of the country believe in,” Kumar said.

Ram Nath Kovind will draw a salary of Rs 1.50 lakh as a monthly salary. President Ram Nath Kovind will take oath on July 25, 2017.

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