Droupadi Murmu: India’s first Santal president

History was scripted today when Droupadi Murmu, the candidate of India's ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, was elected the country's new president becoming the first tribal leader to occupy the highest constitutional office.

Murmu (64), crossed the 50 percent mark after the third round of counting of votes to emerge victorious in the poll over her rival Yashwant Sinha, the joint opposition nominee and a former BJP leader, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

An official announcement on her win is expected after all votes are counted in the presidential poll held on July 18.

The total number of valid votes is 3,219. Out of this, Droupadi Murmu got 2,161 votes while Yashwant Sinha got 1,058 votes, said Returning Officer PC Mody, also secretary general of the Rajya Sabha.

In every round of counting so far, Murmu, a Santal, received more than two-third of the votes cast by elected members of both houses of parliament—the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha—and members of legislative assemblies in the states through secret ballots.

Sources said 17 MPs from opposition parties have cross-voted in Murmu's support.