By Jo Johnson in New Delhi
Monday, July 23, 2007
India's first female president will be sworn in on Wednesday after Pratibha Patil, a controversial candidate who had the backing of the ruling Congress coalition, secured an easy victory in Saturday's election.
Mrs Patil, a former governor of Rajasthan, won 65.8 per cent of votes cast by national lawmakers and state legislators. She had the personal backing of Sonia Gandhi, the Congress party leader, and had been expected to win an unprecedentedly politicised election.
“It is a special moment for us women, and men of course, in our country because for the first time we have a woman being elected president of India,” said Mrs Gandhi, who handpicked Mrs Patil and was one of the first to congratulate her.
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