The Congress candidate defeated PA Sangma (supported by the opposition) with 69.31% of the votes. Experienced politician and former finance minister, Mukherjee's victory is considered crucial in view of the general elections of 2014.

Mumbai (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Pranab Mukherjee is the new president of India. The candidate of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA, the ruling coalition) won the election with 69.31%, beating PA Sangma, a Christian politician backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, the Hindu ultra-nationalist party), who received only 30.69% of the vote. In two days, Mukherjee will go up to Raisina Hill, the area of ​​New Delhi where the official residence, to take the oath as the 13th President of India and start his five-year term.

The presidential elections are based on the votes of an electoral college composed of members of parliament and assemblies of the several States. In absolute numbers, Pranab Mukherjee took home 713,937 votes of 1 million [votes] valid, confirming early polls. Yet, something abnormal occurred in this (almost) announced victory: Karnataka state led by the BJP, "selected" Mukherjee instead of Sangma. The first has obtained 117 votes (53%), while the latter only 103. The BJP has announced plans to find out who "betrayed" their voting promises in the college, but it will be difficult since the ballot is secret.

Mukherjee's victory brings a breath of fresh air for a Congress Party which has been increasingly weakened by a series of corruption scandals, as well as economic difficulties in recent months. Although a primarily official figure, the president may have a key role in the event of a constitutional crisis: a scenario that could take shape with the general elections of 2014, where no party appears to enjoy an absolute majority.

In the case of the newly-elected president, his "weight" could be even greater: Former Minister of Finance of the Government, former Minister of Defense (2004-2006) and Foreign Affairs (2006-2009), Mukherjee is an expert politician. Before him, Raisina Hill was home to KR Narayanan (1997-2002), a former diplomat, Abdul Kalam (2002-2007), a scientist, Pratibha Patil (2007-2012), the first woman to be elected president of India. "Mukherjee - notice some analysts - will be president in the era of coalitions. He is already on the scene for 50 years, and could be the new prime minister. This makes him different from everybody else."

 

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