Page 219 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Electing the President and Vice President Chapter 8

While Pranab Mukherjee was the Finance Minister in the
then UPA government, P.A. Sangma was best known as
the Speaker of Lok Sabha between 1996 and 1998. An
anxious moment was created during scrutiny of
nomination on July 2, 2012 when it was alleged that
Pranab Mukherjee held an office of profit under the
Government by virtue of being Chairman of Council of
Indian Statistical Institute. The objection was later
rejected. Like on the previous occasion, the Election
Commission clarified that voting in Presidential election
was voluntary and based on free will of the elector. No
party whip could interfere with the choice of electors.
Mohammed Hamid Ansari at the swearing-in ceremony of the
Vice President of India, 2007. He held the position twice until 2017 In the Fifteenth Presidential Election the number of states
with Legislative Assemblies including NCT of Delhi and
In the Vice Presidential poll held on August 10, 2007 Puducherry peaked at 31 with the creation of Telangana
Mohammed Hamid Ansari was elected as the new Vice
(June 2, 2014). However, total number of electors
President of India. Ansari became the only other Vice
remained constant at 4896. In this election held on July 17,
President apart from Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan to 2017, Ram Nath Kovind defeated Meira Kumar, the former
retain his post for two terms (2007-12 and 2012-17).
Speaker of Lok Sabha. In the Vice Presidential election, M.
In the Fourteenth Presidential Election held on July 19, Venkaiah Naidu overcame Gopalkrishna Gandhi to
2012, Pranab Mukherjee defeated Purno Agitak Sangma. become the thirteenth Vice President of India.

Pranab Mukherjee being sworn in as the President of India, 2012 Ram Nath Kovind being sworn in as the President of India, 2017

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