Indian President Kovind presidential term to end

The five-year term of India’s President Ram Nath Kovind will end today.

Elected in 2017 by an electoral college of federal parliamentarians and state legislators, Kovind will be succeeded by President-elect Droupadi Murmu, who was elected on July 18 and will take office tomorrow.

Although a largely ceremonial office, the Presidency does hold political importance for incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The election normally favors the ruling party-backed candidate, especially given electoral college voting is weighted in favor of India’s parliament where the government enjoys majorities. Most presidents are retired state or federal politicians affiliated with various parties. Both Kovind and Murmu are former state lawmakers and are backed by Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies. Both men also represent key segments of the electorate that the BJP wish to reach out to ahead of future elections. Kovind was the second Dalit—the lowest rung of India’s social caste system—to hold office, while Murmu—being of the Santali tribe from the state of Odisha—is the first president from a recognized tribal community.

Expect Modi and the BJP to reach out to these communities in a bid to broaden support in new electoral constituencies in the medium-term.