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It is official. Pratibha Patil is the President of India.

Yes, there were last minute allegations against her. Yes there were unnecessary faux pas in the run up to the Presidential election. And, yes, the opponent, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was seen as a man who could garner support cutting across party lines.

But there never was any doubt that Patil will emerge triumphant. She had all the things going for her from the time she was nominated.

Loyalty to the Gandhi family. Tick. Acceptable to the Left. Tick. India's first woman President. Tick. Numbers by her side. Tick.

And thus on the evening of July 21, India met its 13th President.




Vote for your President!
Pratibha Patil
Bhairon Singh Shekhawat
 

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Images
Meet India's First woman President
Life after Rashtrapati Bhavan
Vouching for 'Tai' as President

Message Boards
Wish President Pratibha Patil
Wish President Kalam
What should President Kalam do?
'It was a dream come true'
Have you met President Kalam?
Should a politician be the next President?

Specials
Ansari for VP: Left's move to check UPA
It's politicians who elect the President, stupid!
We are in state of shock: Pratibha's husband
President from Congress, VP from Left?
How Pratibha was chosen
Sonia, CPI-M wage battle of nerves over President
Sonia's desperate gamble for President'

Meeting President Kalam
Yeh Dosti Nahi Todenge
An evening with the stars, under the stars
At home with President Kalam
Prez's Children's Day Chat
The President, relatively speaking

Graphic
How is the President elected?
From Rajendra Prasad to Kalam

Column
Najma Heptulla: Making the best of it
Give us a President who can inspire rather than divide!

From our archives
Electing the President 2002

Interview
Exclusive: Bhairon Singh Shekhawat speaks!

August 13, 2007
President Patil gets a new press secretary
August 10, 2007
Hamid Ansari: A diplomat and scholar
Hamid Ansari elected vice-president
Govinda fails to turn up for VP poll
Voting ends in vice-presidential poll
Shiv Sena likely to back Najma in vice-prez poll
July 26, 2007
Vice-prez poll: Stage set for triangular contest
July 25, 2007
Pratibha's kin move to Rashtrapati Bhavan
I have no regrets: Kalam
Shekhawat unhappy with new bunglow
Madam President for inclusive growth
Pratibha Patil sworn in as President
Idli makes way for Utthapam in Rashtrapati Bhavan
July 24, 2007
Swearing in India's first woman president
Appeals flood 'Madam President' before swearing in
VP Poll: BJP refutes VHP's charges
Vice prez poll: Nomination papers of Ansari, Heptulla and Masood valid
July 23, 2007
Is Najma 'seriously' in fray for VP post?
VP poll: A triangular fight among 3 Muslims
Najma Heptulla files nomination papers
Hamid Ansari files nomination
Presidential poll: NDA knew Shekhawat would lose
July 22, 2007
Najma Heptulla is NDA's VP candidate
Lakshmi Sehgal elated over Pratibha's victory
July 21, 2007
Najma likely to be NDA's vice prez candidate
Victory has bestowed great responsibility: Pratibha
I want to bring self-confidence in every Indian: Kalam
Pratibha, PM, Sonia thank voters
Pratibha's margin & the biggest Prez winners
Celebrations at Pratibha's residence
Prez poll: Complaint against PM, Sonia for inducing voters
Post-Prez poll, what next for Sena-BJP
Prez poll: Rajasthan village jubilant
Shekhawat resigns as vice president
Mine is a victory of principles: Pratibha
Pratibha overcomes bitter campaign to become President
Ansari for VP: Left's move to check UPA
Pratibha Patil is India's 13th President
I should have worked harder: Kalam
July 20, 2007
16 nominations filed for VP poll
Vice presidential poll: Hamid Ansari is UPA-Left candidate
VP poll: UNPA candidate files nomination
Swearing-in in consultation with President-elect
Vice Prez poll: Sonia gives some names to Mayawati
UPA-Left searches for Vice Prez nominee
S S Barnala in fray for vice presidential poll
July 19, 2007
The twists and turns in Presidential elections
I will go with two small suitcases: Kalam
Now, Jayalalithaa blames EC
Dissident Gujarat BJP MLAs vote for Patil
ADMK sparks rift in the Third Front
Prez poll: Jailed Shahabuddin goes to vote in 6-car convoy
Prez poll: TDP MLA defies party diktat
Prez poll: SP MLAs vote for Shekhawat
AIADMK, MDMK u-turn; vote in Prez poll
Voting in Prez poll ends
July 18, 2007
Congress first wanted Shekhawat for President: Advani
Dos and Don'ts for Prez poll voters
Search for UPA-Left VP candidate to gain momentum
Maharashtra CM thanks Thackeray for backing Pratibha
Prez poll: 50 MPs to vote outside Delhi
July 17, 2007
MPs, MLAs need not vote for President: EC
Take sides or forget national politics, Shekhawat camp to Third Front
Prez poll: Petition to bar jailed voters
Rajni Patil case: Court pulls up CBI
Sena in no hurry to decide stand on Vice President poll
Third Front won't vote for controversial candidates
Presidential poll: UPA, NDA to hold meetings today
July 16, 2007
SP's Rasheed Masood is Third Front's VP candidate
Not voting for Prez is unconstitutional: NDA
July 15, 2007
Presidential poll: EC lays down guidelines
July 14, 2007
UNPA to have own nominee for VP, to abstain from Prez poll
Left's logic about VP stumps Congress
July 13, 2007
Shekhawat declares assets, wife richer
HC moved against Pratibha Patil in murder case
July 10, 2007
BJP leader launches Web site on Pratibha
Bihar: Pratibha assured 100 per cent UPA, Left support
July 09, 2007
UNPA stand on presidential poll soon: Jayalalithaa
July 08, 2007
1969 Presidential polls saw 'conscience vote'
July 07, 2007
I fully realise the dignity of top office: Pratibha
Shekhawat to declare his assets
July 06, 2007
NDA's plan to get Third Front to support Shekhawat
Setting precedent, Shekhawat may declare assets
Pratibha's purdah comment costs Congress an ally
Hyderabad welcomes Pratibha Patil
Opposition is trying to tarnish my image: Pratibha
EC rejects Advani's plea on Prez nominees' assets
July 05, 2007
BJP has 'documentary evidence' against Pratibha
'Country should not have rubber stamp President'
Prez poll: Advani's personal appeal to voters
July 04, 2007
Don't demean the dignity of highest office: Pratibha
July 03, 2007
NDA brushes aside charges on Shekhawat
Shekhawat withdrew cases to undo emergency ills: NDA
UPA strongly condemns attack on Pratibha Patil
Supreme Court dismisses PIL against Pratibha Patil
July 02, 2007
No bribery charge against Shekhawat: BJP
SC to hear PIL on Pratibha tomorrow
Nomination papers of Patil, Shekhawat found valid
Pratibha must disclose assets, Advani tells EC
July 01, 2007
Allegations against me are baseless: Pratibha Patil
Pratibha Patil's candidature supported by most states
Don't make Presidential poll a municipal one: Bardhan
June 29, 2007
Prez poll: 10 more nominations on last day
Prez poll: NDA, UPA stand-off continues
I have confidence to win. I will win: Shekhawat
Advani tells UPA to withdraw Pratibha
Prez poll: NDA moves EC against Congress
How Cong plans to take on Pratibha's critics
June 28, 2007
Prez poll: Sushma's history lesson to Cong
Presidential poll: Rebel JD-S to support Pratibha
Pratibha's husband's plea adjourned
June 27, 2007
BJP releases booklet on Pratibha, lists charges
Charges against Pratibha mudslinging: PM
Prez poll: NDA to move EC against Congress
'Premonition' lands Pratibha in new trouble
June 26, 2007
Vajpayee praises Kalam
BJP threatens to review ties with Shiv Sena
Pratibha claims premonition of greater responsibility
Reconsider Pratibha's candidature, BJP tells UPA
Presidential poll: BJP knew Sena's stand
BJP accuses Shiv Sena of betrayal
It's not 'Shekhawat vs Shekhawat', says VP
June 25, 2007
Jalgaon murder probe: 'No pressure on police'
BJP miffed with Sena's support to Pratibha
Presidential poll: Sena to support Pratibha
The Presidential hopefuls, head to head
19 enter fray for Presidential elections
Pratibha must respond to allegations: BJP
A watchman's son has gratitude for Pratibha Patil
Shekhawat: From policeman to Prez candidate
Prez poll: Shekhawat files nomination
June 23, 2007
Pratibha's new camp office
BJP's questions to Pratibha
Kalam wants to be remembered as people's Prez
NDA tries to woo Third Front
Prez polls: How Sushma Swaraj dodged the media
Enough is enough: President Kalam
Presidential poll: 'NDA is stooping too low'
Pawar refutes allegations against Pratibha
Presidential poll: Pratibha files nomination
June 22, 2007
Third Front not to support Shekhawat
NDA back to square one - Shekhawat
Kalam not to contest presidential poll
Don't contest without consensus: Left to Kalam
Third Front leaders meet Kalam
Pratibha Patil's brother accused of murder
New front won't impact Prez poll: Left
Pratibha's resignation as governor accepted
Jayalalithaa to meet Kalam today
June 21, 2007
Third Front meeting with Vajpayee inconclusive
Shiv Sena stays away from NDA meet on Kalam
Third Front to meet Kalam on Friday
Third Front has insulted Kalam: Karunanidhi
The match's over for Kalam: Pawar
Pratibha Patil resigns as Rajasthan Governor
Kalam should step down gracefully: Lalu
Left rejects second term for Kalam
June 20, 2007
Prez poll: Sonia rejects Third Front's plea
Kalam ready for second term if there is 'certainty'
Kalam ready to reconsider decision: Naidu
Mayawati signs Pratibha's nomination papers
Presidential poll: Third Front leaders meet in Delhi
Purdah issue: 'Support to Pratibha conditional'
Make your stand on Prez polls clear: NDA to UPA allies
Sena hints at backing Pratibha, won't support Kalam
June 19, 2007
It's checkmate UPA as NDA reads writing on wall
Shekhawat will not call on Kalam: NDA
Haryana village enters presidential race
BJP ready to support if Kalam agrees: Rajnath
Day after Third Front nomination, PM meets Kalam
Sonia endorses Pratibha Patil's nomination
Kalam is our first choice for President: Mamata
Third Front to meet Kalam Wednesday
Prez poll: Third Front gives NDA hope
June 18, 2007
Shekhawat favours Kalam's re-election
Pratibha Patil's first brush with controversy
We had suggested Kalam's name first: NDA
Rashtrapati Bhavan yet to receive Third Front request
Shekhawat, Pratibha set for battle, Shiv Sena undecided
What the NDA will do
Third Front names Kalam as its candidate
NDA to support Shekhawat as independent
June 17, 2007
Pratibha Patil likely to file nomination on June 23
Karunanidhi didn't back Kalam: Vijayakanth
Who will be the Third Front's Presidential candidate?

June 16, 2007
I will not be a rubber-stamp: Pratibha Patil
Shekhawat drives down to meet Pratibha
Third Front won’t support Pratibha Patil
PM spoke to Thackeray about Pratibha: Shiv Sena
Third Front likely to field nominee
BJP flays Congress, Left over choice
We are still in state of shock: Pratibha’s husband
Shiv Sena unable to make up its mind
UPA, NDA try to woo Third Front
Najma misses the bus, Pratibha hops in
Pratibha to meet Shekhawat
Pratibha meets PM, Sonia Gandhi
Election Commission issues notification
Will Pratibha be addressed as Rashtrapati?
'Pratibha was PM's choice for President'
June 15, 2007
BJP secretive about its candidate
Third Front yet to take a decision
Shekhawat mum on poll
Shiv Sena's decision likely tonight
President from Congress, Veep from Left?
NDA not to back Pratibha Patil
June 14, 2007
How Pratibha Patil was chosen
Congress appeals to NDA to back Pratibha Patil
Profile: UPA's President-nominee Pratibha Patil
Pratibha Patil is UPA-Left nominee
Advani takes a dig at UPA
UPA's Prez candidate likely by Friday: Karat
I am available for President's post: Karan Singh
Patil has to prove 'Maharashtrian roots'
DMK to back Congress nominee
DMK-Left meet on Prez fails, Cabinet puts off meeting
Kalam's pets to miss him at Rashtrapati Bhavan
I am not running for President: Mukherjee
June 13, 2007
Presidential poll on July 19, result on 21st
June 12, 2007
Sonia meets Congress leaders
Left yet to take final decision
No consensus on presidential candidate: NDA
Maya joins hands with UPA
Third Front to name candidate on June 18
Maya may support UPA candidate for President
June 11, 2007
Congress open to talks on Prez candidate
BJP rejects PM's call to back UPA's Prez nominee
June 10, 2007
Presidential poll: BJP to consider PM's request
June 9, 2007
Next President will be from UPA-Left alliance
UPA has upper hand
June 7, 2007
Patil-Pranab race in Cong for President post
June 6, 2007
Eight regional parties defer decision on support
Will Sonia choose a lady President?
Shekhawat may run as independent
8 regional parties launch new national front
June 5, 2007
Sonia authorised to nominate Congress candidate
June 3, 2007
Third front leaders to discuss Presidential elections
May 31, 2007
Poll panel all set for Prez polls
May 28, 2007
Karunanidhi, Sonia discuss Presidential nominee
May 27, 2007
Shekhawat has history on his side in Prez polls
May 26, 2007
Left not zeroed in on any name for presidential poll
Next President should be a political figure: Pawar
Mayawati may support UPA-Left
Mayawati meets Dr Singh
May 25, 2007
BSP keeps UPA, NDA guessing
Delhi: Mayawati has arrived with a bang
Another tea-party: Maya meets Sonia at 10, Janpath
May 22, 2007
Dinner diplomacy at PM's residence
May 18, 2007
PM non-committal on names for President's post
Pranab emerging as top contender in Prez race
May 17, 2007
I have no desire to be President: Vajpayee
May 16, 2007
Consultations on Prez candidate gain momentum
Left could be pushing their own candidate for prez polls
Mamata says Vajpayee for President
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