DHAKA: Ram Nath Kovind has been sworn in as India’s 14th President replacing Pranab Mukherjee. He was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice JS Khehar in the central hall of Parliament. 

At the occasion attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former PMs Manmohan Singh and Deve Gowda, former president Pratibha Patil, chief ministers and MPs of both Houses of Parliament, Kovind thanked everyone for the enormous responsibility bestowed on him, reports the Indian Express. 

“I bow to the 125 crore citizens of this great nation and promise to stay true to the trust they have bestowed on me,” he said. “Each one of us is a custodian of India’s well-being and of the legacy that we will pass on to coming generations.”

Kovind, former Governor of Bihar and nominated by the BJP-led NDA, won the presidential election last week receiving over 7 lakh votes in the Electoral College and defeating Opposition candidate Meira Kumar.

Kovind, who practiced at both the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court for 16 years, is India’s second Dalit president after KR Narayanan. The 71-year-old has also been a Rajya Sabha MP for two terms.

BDST: 1655 HRS, JULY 25, 2017
AP