NEW DELHI –
The Indian parliamentarians have Monday a new president chosen. Nearly 5000 national and regional representatives participated. Although the results of the secret ballot until Thursday, it is already clear that Ram Nath Kovind the most likely.
Prime minister Narendra Modi, who as one of the first voice released, said that he looks to the cooperation with the former governor of Bihar and promised his partijgenoot all the support from the government. Kovind (71), as well as its rival Meira Kumar, ex-president, a Dalit. They both belong in the Indian caste system to the poorest and most oppressed section of the population, that of the ‘untouchables’.
The role of the Indian president, who for five years is appointed, largely ceremonial although the constitution of him or her as head of state designates. The retiring Pranab Mukherjee tried to present itself as guardian of the national conscience.