News / World
Pratibha Patil Elected as India’s First Woman President
Pratibha Patil of the Congress party received 65.82 percent of the vote to defeat incumbent Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and become India’s first woman elected president of India.
The 72-year-old Patil will be sworn in as India’s 13th president on July 25 and begin a five-year term in the largely ceremonial post. Her victory could pave the way for several reforms that address discriminatory practices towards women in the Indian culture.
Shortly after the results were announced on Saturday Patil told reporters ““I am grateful to the people of India, to all the men and women of India. This is a victory of the principles of which our Indian people uphold.”
