NEW DELHI, Selected members of Indian Parliament and Legislative Assemblies of states and Union Territories voted on Monday to elect the new president of the country.

Chief Returning Officer of Election Commission PC Mody said that the voter turnout was 99.18 percent. Ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic Alliance nominated tribal leader Droupadi Murmu, while the opposition is supporting Yashwant Sinha of Trinamool Congress ruling the West Bengal.

Around 4,800 elected members of Indian Parliament’s both the Lower and Upper Houses and the Legislative Assemblies of all the states and Union Territories cast their vote that took place between 10 and 5 PM.

The vote counting would take place on July 21 and the new President would take oath of office on July 25 as the tenure of current President Ram Nath Kovind expires on July 24. Murmu aged 64 who resigned as Governor of Jharkhand to contest for the post of President is poised to win the presidency as the NDA has support of the majority members in the Parliament and Legislative Assemblies.

Yashwant Sinha, who was a leader of BJP and served as finance minister in 2000-2004 government, joined Trinamool Congress two years back said that this election is very crucial for the survival of democracy in the country.

“I have repeatedly said that this election is very important as it will decide the direction as to whether democracy will remain in India or will slowly end. The indications that we are getting is that we are moving towards its end,” Sinha told reporters.

Source: Kuwait News Agency