Several glass ceilings shattered, Droupadi Murmu is India’s next president

Droupadi Murmu, who found backers across party lines along her campaign trail, registered an easy win over the opposition's pick Yashwant Sinha.

Droupadi Murmu, the NDA’s presidential candidate, will be the new occupant of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Murmu has crossed the 50 per cent mark at the end of the third round of counting to become the country’s first tribal and the second women president. 64-year-old Murmu, who found backers across party lines along her campaign trail, registered an easy win over the opposition's pick Yashwant Sinha.

She will be administered the oath of office on July 25.

The unassuming politician, who started her career in public life as a councilor in Odisha, secured 69 per cent of votes in the third round of counting and 53 per cent in the Electoral College.

Born after India’s Independence, India's 15th president, who will take over from Ram Nath Kovind, will also be the country’s youngest.

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Droupadi Murmu travelled the country, campaigning for the election. Her victory run appeared certain with support from a section of opposition parties - the BJD, Shiv Sena, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, YSR Congress, BSP, TDP, boosting her numbers.

Some of these parties had earlier supported the candidature of the joint opposition candidate, Yashwant Sinha.