New Delhi: Dravupati Murmu (64) will take office as the 15th President of the country today.
The presidential election was held on the 18th. Former Jharkhand Governor Draupathi Murmu contested on behalf of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance and former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha on behalf of the opposition parties.
MPs and MLAs voted in this election. Counting of votes was held on 21st. Draupathi Murmu won overwhelmingly with 64 percent votes. Yashwant Sinha got only 36 percent votes.
As the term of President Ram Nath Kovind, who was elected in 2017, ended yesterday, Drarubathi Murmu will take oath as the 15th President of the country today.
Strong security
The swearing-in ceremony takes place in the Parliament’s Central Hall. In this regard, strong security arrangements have been made throughout the Parliament complex. All 30 government offices located in the Parliament complex have been ordered to be handed over to the security forces at 6 am today. A thorough search will be conducted across the campus and elaborate security arrangements will be made.
Thousands of workers are engaged in the construction of the new Parliament complex. For safety reasons, the construction work has been ordered to stop today.
It has also been advised that all government offices operating in the Parliament premises should remain closed from 6 am to 2 pm.
Honor to 21 shells
After the traditional formalities, at 10.05 am, President Ram Nath Kovind and President-elect Dravupati Murmu will arrive at the Central Hall of Parliament with a procession.
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Supreme Court Chief Justice NV Ramana, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers of various states, MPs, ambassadors of various countries and army chiefs will participate in the function.
Supreme Court Chief Justice NV Ramana will administer the oath of office to the new President Draupadi Murmu at 10.15 am. This will be followed by a 21-gun salute to the President of the new Republic. Later, the new President Draupadi Murmu will address the Parliament. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu will read the English text.
Later, Drabupati Murmu and Ram Nath Kovind will visit the President’s House. There Dravupati Murmu accepts the honors of the procession. Subsequently, he will officially settle in the President’s House.