Draupadi Murmu, a 64-year-old woman from India’s tribal minority, has been elected as the country’s president.
The office of the president in India is a largely ceremonial one. Executive powers lie in the hands of the prime minister.
Murmu who is from the marginalised Santhal tribe, emerged president with the backing of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
After her victory, Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister tweeted to congratulate her. He said, her “exemplary success motivates each and every Indian”.
Yashwant Sinha, her closest rival, also tweeted his congratulations.“India hopes that as the 15th President of the Republic she functions as the custodian of the Constitution without fear or favour,” he wrote.