The opulent Durbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan was on Friday packed with top leaders cutting across party lines and…
(Photo: Twitter)
The opulent Durbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan was on Friday packed with top leaders cutting across party lines and dignitaries as M Venkaiah Naidu took oath as India’s 13th Vice-President.
The high marbled dome of the grand banquet hall reverberated with the sound of the National Anthem, which officially commenced the function as President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others stood in attention.
President Kovind administered the oath of office and secrecy to Naidu who was dressed in his trademark crisp, white shirt and a lungi (wrap-around) with a matching angavastram or thundu– a traditional stole draped over the shoulders by men.
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Following the ceremonial reception, Naidu shook hands with President Kovind and walked out of the hall with PM Modi. He will now take over as the speaker of the Rajya Sabha in Parliament.
The former Union Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader began the day by offering floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.
He then paid tributes to the statues of Jan Sangh leader Deendayal Upadhyaya at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg, Sardar Vallabhai Patel at Patel Chowk and Dr BR Ambedkar inside the Parliament premises.
Naidu will be the second Vice-President from RSS background, after Bhairon Singh Shekhawat who served as the ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha from 2002-2007.
Naidu won 516 out of the 790 seats that comprise both the houses of Parliament and defeated former West Bengal Governor and Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi– the opposition candidate– by 272 votes.
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