New Delhi, Jul 21 (IANS): NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu secured victory in the Presidential poll on July 21, Thursday after the third round of counting as out of the 3,219 valid votes counted so far, she bagged 2,161 while Opposition's nominee Yashwant Sinha got 1,058.

"I heartily congratulate 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," said Sinha who is backed by the Opposition parties.

Counting of votes for the Presidential poll started on Thursday at the Parliament House in the national capital.

Murmu and Sinha were pitted against each other in the contest. It emerged that votes were clearly stacked in Murmu's favour.

Keeping in view the support extended by various parties, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Murmu had a clear edge over Opposition's Sinha.

Voting for the Presidential polls concluded on Monday (July 18)with over 99 per cent of voting.

NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu was ahead of Opposition nominee Yashwant Sinha and she defeated him by a huge margin after the completion of all rounds of counting for the Presidential election, which included ballot papers from the first 10 states.

Of the 1,886 valid votes counted in the third round, Murmu had bagged 1,349, while Sinha got 537.

In the second round of counting, of the total 1,138 valid votes counted, Murmu had secured 809 while Sinha had bagged 329 votes.

After the first round of counting on Thursday, the number of votes in favour of Droupadi was 540 while Sinha managed 208 out of the 748 valid votes.

Murmu will be the first tribal woman to occupy the top constitutional post in the country.