Yashwant Sinha congratulates Draupadi Murmu on her victory, hopes new President functions without fear or favour

Yashwant Sinha - the Opposition's candidate for the 2022 Presidential election - congratulated opponent Draupadi Murmu on her victory.

“I join my fellow citizens in congratulating Smt Draupadi Murmu on her victory in the Presidential Election 2022. India hopes that as the 15th President of the Republic she functions as the Custodian of the Constitution without fear or favour," Sinha said in a tweet.

Sinha thanked Opposition leaders and members of the electoral college, adding that he accepted the offer to contest solely guided by the Bhagavad Gita, to "do your duty without expectation of the fruits thereof."


“I have performed my duty conscientiously out of my love for my country. The issues I had raised during my campaign remain pertinent,” Sinha's statement read.

Sinha further highlighted that the election has benefited Indian democracy in important ways, including bringing most Opposition parties on to a common platform.

The NDA's Presidential candidate, Murmu, crossed the 50% mark of total valid votes at the end of the third round of counting earlier today, defeating Sinha. Her victory makes Murmu the first tribal person to occupy the office of the President of India.

She is likely to take oath on July 25, with incumbent President Ram Nath Kovind's tenure ending on July 24.