Ethnic minority woman wins India’s presidential election

By SHEIKH SAALIQ
Associated Press

NEW DELHI (AP) — A woman who hails from a minority ethnic community has been chosen as India’s new president. On Thursday, Droupadi Murmu became the first president from one of the country’s tribes and the second-ever female president of India. The votes to elect Murmu as the new president were polled by the Indian Parliament and state legislatures on Monday. Murmu, a leader from India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, is a member of the Santal ethnic minority, one of the country’s largest tribal groups. She started out as a teacher before entering politics. Murmu will be formally sworn in as the president on Monday. The president’s role in India is largely ceremonial and bound by the advice of the Cabinet, led by the prime minister.