Breaking News: Ram Nath Kovind is the new President

Ram Nath Kovind has become India’s 14th President. His supporters were seen singing and dancing to the drumbeats at his residence in Paraunkh near Kanpur.

Kovind, who was nominated by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, received 7, 02, 644 votes and scored an easy win over the opposition's candidate Meira Kumar, a former Lok Sabha Speaker. Kovind won by 65.65% votes. Meira Kumar got 34.35% of votes.

His successor President Pranab Mukherjee will demit office on July 25.

Ram Nath Kovind was born on October 1, 1945 in Kanpur Dehat, UP. Kovind has been a member of Rajya Sabha from UP for two terms: 1994-2000 and 2000-2006.

He is a Dalit leader and headed BJP's Scheduled Caste Morcha between 1999 and 2002.

He has been working on various issues related to Dalit and Scheduled Castes, and has served in many committees.