‘Hope She Functions Without Fear or Favour’: Sinha Congratulates Droupadi Murmu

He said, "I join my fellow citizens in congratulating Droupadi Murmu on her victory in the Presidential election."

Droupadi Murmu was on Thursday, 21 July, declared the 15th President of India.

(Photo: The Quint)

Yashwant Sinha, the Opposition's joint candidate who lost the presidential election against Droupadi Murmu, congratulated Murmu on her victory on Thursday, 21 July, and said, "I hope - indeed, every Indian hopes - that as the 15th President of India she functions as the Custodian of the Constitution without fear or favour."

Taking to Twitter, Sinha said, "I join my fellow citizens in congratulating Droupadi Murmu on her victory in the Presidential election 2022."

After the third round of counting, by which ballots were counted for 20 states, Murmu had garnered 2,161 votes valued at 5,77,77 – more than 50 percent of the total votes.

Here's what Sinha said in his statement.

"I heartily congratulate Smt Droupadi Murmu on her victory in the Presidential Election 2022. I hope - indeed, every Indian hopes - that as the 15th President of India she functions as the Custodian of the Constitution without fear or favour. I join my fellow countrymen in extending best wishes to her."

He further said, "I sincerely thank the leaders of the Opposition political parties for choosing me as their consensus candidate in this election. I also thank all members of the Electoral College who voted for me. I accepted the offer of Opposition parties solely guided by the philosophy of Karma Yoga preached by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita - 'Do your duty without expectation of the fruits thereof.'"

"I have performed my duty conscientiously out of my love for my country. The issues I had raised during my campaign remain pertinent.
Despite the outcome of the election, I believe it has benefited Indian democracy in two important ways," he added.

"First, it brought most Opposition parties on a common platform. This is indeed the need of the hour, and I earnestly appeal to them to continue - indeed, further strengthen - Opposition unity beyond the Presidential Election. It must be equally evident in the election of the Vice-President," the statement further read.

"Second, in the course of my election campaign, I tried to highlight the views, concerns and commitments of the Opposition parties on major issues before the nation and the common people. In particular, I voiced strong concern over the blatant and rampant weaponisation of ED, CBI, Income Tax department and even the office of Governor against Opposition parties and their leaders," Sinha emphasised.

"These institutions are also being misused to engineer defections and topple Opposition-run state governments. India has never seen political corruption of such magnitude. This, coupled with the poisonous politics of polarisation, poses a grave danger to democracy and communal harmony in India," the statement read.

"I am happy that my views found strong resonance among the CM, leaders, MPs and MLAs belonging to Opposition parties in all the states I visited. Common people have also supported these views. Finally, a pledge. Till the last breath in my body, I shall continue to serve the cause I believe in - the very cause that guided me to contest the election for the highest office of the Republic. Thank you. jai Hind," Sinha said.