India set to get its first tribal President as Droupadi Murmu takes unassailable lead over rival Yashwant Sinha

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India will get its first President from the tribal community as Droupadi Murmu backed by the ruling BJP-led coalition has established an unassailable lead over her opposition-backed rival Yashwant Sinha with over 70% votes having been counted till now.</p>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Folk artists perform a tribal dance at Mother Teresa Crescent Road in Delhi, to celebrate as NDA's Presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu leads against Opposition's Yashwant Sinha after the end of the first round of counting. <a href="https://t.co/wHQlpQmzwE">pic.twitter.com/wHQlpQmzwE</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1550083985614995456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The final resulted is expected to be declared at 8 pm after the counting is completed at Parliament House. </p>
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So far, 1,886 votes have been counted which works out to a value of 6.73 lakh, of an electoral college of around 11 lakh. Of this 6.73 lakh, Droupadi Murmu has won 4.83 lakh, which means more than 70 per cent of the votes. She is well on her way to crossing the required halfway mark perhaps even before all the votes are counted. With that, India will get its first tribal President, and only the second woman.</p>
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Counting began around 1.30 pm at Parliament House. The process began at 11 am, as ballot boxes from all states were opened before starting the count.</p>
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Droupadi Murmu at her at Teen Murti Marg to congratulate her after the results are declared, sources said.</p>
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Delhi BJP has planned a roadshow from the party headquarters to Rajpath to celebrate her victory. Many senior leaders will be present, sources said. All state units of the BJP have also planned victory processions.</p>
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The President-elect will take oath on July 25, a day after Ramnath Kovind's tenure ends.</p>
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Meanwhile celebrations have already begun in Murmu’s native village of Rairangpur in Odisha. Anticipating her victory, the villagers made sweets and were getting ready for celebrations on Wednesday. Villagers have also planned a victory procession and tribal dance on Thursday.</p>
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The BJP has also planned grand celebrations in Murmu’s home state. Local BJP leader Tapan Mahanta said that preparations are underway for preparing 20,000 laddus and putting up 100 banners congratulating Murmu.</p>