President Ramnath Kovind to give farewell speech; Stage all set for Murmu

Outgoing President of India Ram Nath Kovind will address the nation today on the eve of demitting office.

The address will be broadcast from 7 PM on the entire national network of All India Radio and telecast over all channels of Doordarshan.

Droupadi Murmu was elected to be the next President of India on Friday after she comprehensively defeated the opposition’s presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha.

She will take oath at the Central Hall of Parliament on Monday. Murmu, 64, won by a thumping margin, garnering over 64 percent valid votes.

She will succeed Ram Nath Kovind to become the country’s 15th president. Murmu will be the first person from a tribal background to take the office.

Murmu is likely to take oath tomorrow with incumbent President Ram Nath Kovind’s tenure ending today. Murmu, a 64-year-old, also becomes just the second woman to take over the role. Her candidature also created a divide in the opposition camp.

The JMM party in Jharkhand extended support to her due to her tribal credentials. A few other tribal MPs and MLAs cutting across party lines also voted for her.

Meanwhile, Parliamentarians bid farewell to outgoing president Ram Nath Kovind last evening, at a special function held in the central hall of parliament.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, president-elect Droupadi Murmu, vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla besides other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

During his farewell address, President Kovind thanked the citizens for giving him an opportunity to serve in the country’s top constitutional post, and cited that the Parliament “is a temple of democracy”.

Furthermore, addressing the parliamentarians, Kovind asked the political parties to rise above partisan politics in the national interest and decide what is necessary for the welfare of the people.

He further emphasized the value of peace and harmony, saying people have a right to oppose and create pressure to pursue their goals, but their methods must be Gandhian.

 While Congratulating Droupadi Murmu for being elected as the next President, Kovind asserted that India will benefit from her guidance.