71-year-old Ram Nath Kovind, a lawyer, had served twice as a Rajya Sabha member before he took over as Bihar Governor. If elected, he will be India's second Dalit president after KR Narayanan, who served from 1997 to 2002. Mr Kovind's selection is seen as a move by the BJP to consolidate its growing support among politically vital backward castes. But it is Mr Kovind's past as a long-time BJP worker which was instrumental for his selection, the opposition has alleged.


(Photo: Presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah)