Indian lawmakers voted Monday to pick the country’s president, who is certain to come from the lowest Dalit caste, in an election seen as strengthening Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s grip on power. Some 4,900 legislators nationwide voted in what Modi termed a “historic” election to choose the titular head of state. Modi’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated Ram Nath Kovind, a 71-year-old former lawyer from the Dalit community. His main rival is Meira Kumar, the nominee of the Congress-led opposition and also a Dalit. It will be only the second time that India has had a Dalit head of state.

Source: Dhaka Tribune July 17, 2017 06:22 UTC