Pranab Mukherjee, the ruling UPA’s key strategist and a long-time minister, was yesterday elected India’s 13th president by an overwhelming majority of MPs and legislators across the political spectrum, leaving his rival PA Sangma bruised.u00a0One of country’s most experienced and canny politicians, Mukherjee won the sweepstakes with a massive margin, bagging 713,763 votes, about 70 percent, leaving Sangma way behind with 315,887 votes. Sangma projected himself as a representative of “tribals,” but his sales pitch simply did not work.

Raisina Hills resident: Pranab Mukherjee takes over from Pratibha Patil. The swearing-in ceremony will be held in parliament on July 25, the day Patil moves out of the 340-room presidential palace and the Mukherjee moves in. Pic/AFP