NEW DELHI (AP) ? The candidate from India's governing Congress party, former Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, has claimed victory in the election for the country's next president, a largely ceremonial position.
With about three-quarters of the votes from last week's balloting counted Sunday, the Press Trust of India news agency reported that Mukherjee, 76, had received more than half. The votes were cast by national and state legislators.
"I express deep gratitude to the people for electing me to this high office," Mukherjee said. He said he would try to justify the people's trust.
An official announcement of the election result was expected later Sunday.
His rival, Purno Agitok Sangma, conceded defeat before the counting was complete. "I congratulate Mukherjee on his victory and I wish him success," he told reporters.
Mukherjee's elated supporters danced to the beat of drums outside his residence as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi, the Congress party chief, arrived to congratulate him. Several opposition groups also backed Mukherjee.
Mukherjee and former Parliament speaker Sangma were competing to succeed India's first female president, Pratibha Devisingh Patil. The winner is to be sworn in Wednesday.
In India, the prime minister is the head of government and the presidency is mostly a ceremonial position.
Mukherjee has served previously as foreign minister, defense minister and finance minister. His latest term as finance minister from 2009 until earlier this year was marred by declining growth, a tumbling currency and rising inflation. India's economic growth in the last quarter was 5.3 percent, the slowest rate in years.
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