Pranab Mukherjee elected new Indian president

NEW DELHI: Former finance minister Pranab Mukherjee was elected Indian president on Sunday after votes from national and state lawmakers were counted in the race for the mainly ceremonial post.

Some analysts believe Mukherjee, a veteran from the ruling Congress party, may take a more active approach to the job than his predecessors as India struggles with a parliamentary deadlock and slowing economic growth. Mukherjee, 76, collected 69 percent votes, easily beating his only rival P A Sangma, 64, a former lower house speaker and tribal leader from the remote northeast who was backed by the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"I would like to thank the people of this great country for conferring this distinction by electing me to this high office," Mukherjee told crowds of cheering supporters gathered outside his residence in New Delhi.

India's president, who takes up residence in a 340-room palace built in the capital for the British viceroy during colonial rule, is chosen by legislators from the two houses of parliament and state assemblies.

The next general election, due to be held in 2014, is predicted to be close, which could lead to a period of complex horse-trading between numerous national and regional parties trying to form a stable coalition government.

"It's in this turbulent scenario Mukherjee as a president will be able to steer the ship of the state. He's a troubleshooter," said Sanjay Kumar, an analyst at India's Centre for the Study of Developing Societies.

Mukherjee may also try to use the presidential position to foster a behind-the-scenes deal between warring parties who have reduced parliament to a stalemate in recent sessions. He has a reputation as a canny negotiator, and was described by leaked US embassy cables in 2009 as "the ultimate Congress Party fixer and operator" with clear ambitions at that time to become prime minister.

Mukherjee commands widespread respect across party lines, but his performance as finance minister was criticised for his failure to push through reforms to further liberalise India's economy.

His exit from the ministry raised investors' hopes that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who took over the finance portfolio, could embark on long-awaited moves. Mukherjee's success on Sunday was a welcome victory for the embattled the Congress party, which has been beset by a string of graft scandals, policy reversals and a raft of disappointing economic data.

Sangma congratulated his opponent but criticised the Congress for running an "exceptionally partisan and political" campaign for the head of state. Mukherjee will be formally sworn in on Wednesday, taking over for a five-year term from Pratibha Patil, India's first woman president. 

Baba Ramdev aide Balkrishna arrested in fake passport case

Haridwar, Jul 20, 2012: CBI has arrested yoga guru Ramdev's aide Balkrishna, after a Dehra Dun court issued a non-bailable warrant against him in a case related to fake documents. The arrest comes ahead of Ramdev's August 9 agitation against corruption and black money in Delhi.

The special CBI court had asked Balkrishna to be present in court on Friday, but he failed to appear. CBI had filed a case against Balkrishna in a case relating to submission of alleged fake and forged documents to obtain an Indian passport. CBI has alleged that Balkrishna had, along with the then principal of Sanskrit Mahavidayala in Khurja in Uttar Pradesh, conspired to issue fake educational certificates which Balkrishna used to secure a passport. CBI has booked both men under IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery. Additionally, Balkrishna has been charged with violation of the Passport Act.

"It was alleged in the complaint that the accused had wrongfully obtained an Indian passport. Enquiry established that the accused in connivance with some unknown persons has furnished false information and forged documents to the Passport office at Bareilly (UP) for getting an Indian passport issued," a CBI spokesperson said.

Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh alleged Ramdev a fraud after his aide Balkrishna's arrest. Singh said Congress would expose Baba Ramdev's misdeeds soon and asked his party men to follow the non-violent path. "The Congress follows the path of non-violence. I do not believe that violence is ever good. I am appealing to my party workers not to start a movement, which may turn violent. We will, with dignity and non-violence, open all cases of this hypocrite baba. We will expose all his black deeds," Singh said in Bhopal.

Balkrishna's arrest an attempt to scare me: Ramdev,  Sits on dharna
Dehradun: Hours after the arrest of his close aide Balkrishna, Yoga guru Ramdev on Friday alleged that the government was taking such steps to scare him and break his resolve in the fight for bringing back black money stashed abroad. 

"The government is scared of the August nine agitation. That is why there was a murderous attempt on me (in Bhopal) and character assassination of Balkrishna. 

"By doing so, the government thinks that it can break my resolve and scare people who are protesting. Let the government do whatever they want, I will not leave the path of truth," Ramdev said in a statement. 


Balkrishna was today arrested by the CBI after a non-bailable warrant was issued against him by a special court here in an alleged fake documents case. 

Ramdev also alleged that Balkrishna was being targeted because he was his close aide.