Leaving behind all talks about he being from the lower-rung of Hindu caste, Ram Nath Kovind was on Thursday elected as the first citizen of India.
However, activists who preach for the protection of backward section, perhaps had never heard of his name before the BJP president Amit Shah announced him as the party's presidential candidate.
His name was searched more than 5,00,000 times on Google within 24 hours of the announcement of his candidature. His name wasn't a familiar enough for newspaper readers and television viewers. The former Bihar governor and BJP veteran is known to keep a quiet and low profile. He is unassuming and affable who had an easy win with more than 65 per cent votes to the country's highest constitutional post. He even managed to bag the vote of the regional parties. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik extended their support to him, defecting from united opposition brigade. Kovind got the votes of 522 MPs while Opposition candidate Meira Kumar bagged 225 MPs.
The 14th President of India has a non-confrontational approach to politics and this easy demeanor has stood the Kanpur-born former lawyer in good stead. He is not just a Dalit leader, but is known for his organisational skills and is a loyal member of the BJP, attributes that not many in the larger NDA family can boast of.
One can easily find his speeches on the floor of the house during Atal Behari Vajpayee's regime.
Kovind is married and has a son and a daughter. However, during the weeks of campaigning, his children were not seen much or written about.
Moreover he was drawn more to the politics of social empowerment of Dalits and other weaker sections than the plank of religion or Hindutva.Names of several presidential probables from the NDA stable had done the rounds, but Kovind, a former national spokesperson of the party, was not among them. While the choice surprised political watchers, it was seen as an astute move for a party working overtime to expand its social base and win over new constituencies. And one that has delivered dividends.
Kovind is married and has a son and a daughter. It was a measure of his public persona that though his wife Savita was by his side during the weeks of campaigning, his children were not seen much or written about. BJP chief Amit Shah said the party's parliamentary board went through a long list of potential candidates before choosing Kovind, who was its MP in Rajya Sabha for two terms and headed its Dalit Morcha.