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{{Short description|none}}
{{pp-pc|small=yes}}
{{original research|date=January 2012}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2007 Indian presidential election
| country = India
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2002 Indian presidential election
| previous_year = 2002
| next_election = 2012 Indian presidential election
| next_year = 2012
| election_date = 19 July 2007
| image1 = {{CSS image crop|Image=The President of India, Smt. Pratibha Patil.jpg|bSize=100|cWidth=100|cHeight=120|oLeft=0|oTop=0}}
| nominee1 = '''[[Pratibha Patil]]'''
| party1 = Indian National Congress
| alliance1 = United Progressive Alliance
| home_state1 = [[Maharashtra]]
| electoral_vote1 = '''638,116'''
| percentage1 = '''65.8%'''
| states_carried1 = '''21+[[New Delhi|NCT]]+[[Puducherry (union territory)|PY]]'''
| image2 = {{CSS image crop|Image=BS Shekhawat.jpg|bSize=100|cWidth=100|cHeight=120|oLeft=0|oTop=0}}
| nominee2 = [[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]]
| party2 = Bharatiya Janata Party
| alliance2 = National Democratic Alliance (India)
| home_state2 = [[Rajasthan]]
| electoral_vote2 = 331,306
| percentage2 = 34.2%
| states_carried2 = 7
| title = President
| before_election = [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]]
| before_party = [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| after_election = [[Pratibha Patil]]
| after_party = Indian National Congress
| map_image = 2007 Indian Presidential Election.svg
| map_size = 350px
}}
The [[Election Commission of India]] held indirect 13th '''presidential elections''' of [[India]] on 19 July 2007 with giving the results on 21 July.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6905905.stm Indian MPs vote for new president]. ''[[BBC News]]''. Retrieved on 19 July 2007.</ref> [[Pratibha Patil]] with 638,116 votes won over her nearest rival [[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]] who got 331,306 votes. This result meant that Pratibha Patil became the first female [[President of India]].

==Candidates ==
=== [[United Progressive Alliance]] ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|United Progressive Alliance}}" |
|-
![[United Progressive Alliance]]
|-
! For President
|-
|[[File:Pratibha Patil 2012-02-27.jpg|center|220x220px]]
|-
![[Governor of Rajasthan]] <br/>[[Pratibha Patil]]
[[Indian National Congress]]
|}

=== [[National Democratic Alliance]] ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|National Democratic Alliance}}" |
|-
! [[National Democratic Alliance]]
|-
! For President
|-
| [[File:Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.jpg|center|220x220px]]
|-
! [[Vice President of India|Vice President]] <br/> [[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]]
[[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
|}

On 14 June, [[Pratibha Patil]], the [[Governor of Rajasthan|governor]] of the state of [[Rajasthan]], was declared by UPA as its candidate for the election. The Left and other allies of the [[United Progressive Alliance]] (UPA) such as [[Bahujan Samaj Party]] (BSP) and [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK) announced their support on Patil's candidature. [[Shiv Sena (1966–2022)|Shiv Sena]], an ally of the [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA) also supported Patil's candidature. The move came as a surprise as Patil's name was not mentioned among the probables by UPA so far.

Supported unofficially by the NDA, the then Vice President, [[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]] filed his nomination as an independent candidate on 25 June 2007.

==Process==
{{Politics of India}}
{{further|President of India#Election of the President}}

As per the electoral calculation following were the number of votes for respective political parties.

[[Electoral College (India)]]
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right; width:150;"
|-
! Name of party !! Combined value of vote
|-
| align="left"|[[Indian National Congress]] || 281,015
|-
| align="left"|[[Bharatiya Janata Party]] || 253,269
|-
| align="left"|[[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] || 81,722
|-
| align="left"|[[Bahujan Samaj Party]] || 62,862
|-
| align="left"|[[Samajwadi Party]] || 58,403
|-
| align="left"|[[Rashtriya Janata Dal]] || 32,727
|-
| align="left"|[[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] || 29,752
|-
| align="left"|[[Janata Dal (United)]] || 27,057
|-
| align="left"|[[Nationalist Congress Party]] || 23,788
|-
| align="left"|[[Shiv Sena (1966–2022)|Shiv Sena]] || 22,178
|-
| align="left"|[[Biju Janata Dal]] || 19,709
|-
| align="left"|[[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] || 19,280
|-
| align="left"|[[Communist Party of India]] || 15,130
|-
| align="left"|[[Telugu Desam Party]] || 14,744
|-
| align="left"|[[Shiromani Akali Dal]] || 13,356
|-
| align="left"|[[Janata Dal (Secular)]] || 11,956
|-
| align="left"|[[Pattali Makkal Katchi]] || 8,156
|-
| align="left"|[[Trinamool Congress]] || 8,070
|-
| align="left"|[[Telangana Rashtra Samithi]] || 7,388
|-
| align="left"|[[All India Forward Bloc]] || 7,365
|-
| align="left"|[[Jharkhand Mukti Morcha]] || 7,128
|-
| align="left"|[[Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)|Revolutionary Socialist Party]] || 6,360
|-
| align="left"|[[Rashtriya Lok Dal]] || 4,912
|-
| align="left"|[[Asom Gana Parishad]] || 4,908
|-
| align="left"|[[Lok Jan Shakti Party]] || 4,742
|-
| align="left"|[[Jammu & Kashmir National Conference]] || 4,140
|-
| align="left"|[[Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] || 3,904
|-
| align="left"|[[Indian National Lok Dal]] || 2,940
|-
| align="left"|[[Jammu & Kashmir People's Democratic Party]] || 2,568
|-
| align="left"|[[Indian Union Muslim League]] || 2,480
|-
| align="left"|[[Sikkim Democratic Front]] || 1,633
|-
| align="left"|[[Nagaland People's Front]] || 1,587
|-
| align="left"|[[Mizo National Front]] || 1,584
|-
| align="left"|[[Kerala Congress]] || 1,316
|-
| align="left"|[[All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen]] || 1,300
|-
| align="left"|[[Assam United Democratic Front]] || 1,160
|-
| align="left"|[[Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation]] || 1,041
|-
| align="left"|[[Republican Party of India (Athvale)]] || 883
|-
| align="left"|[[Swatantra Bharat Paksh]] || 883
|-
| align="left"|[[Kerala Congress (Mani)]] || 760
|-
| align="left"|[[Samata Party]] || 717
|-
| align="left"|[[Bharatiya Navshakti Party]] || 708
|-
| align="left"|[[Indian Federal Democratic Party]] || 708
|-
| align="left"|[[National Loktantrik Party]] || 708
|-
| align="left"|[[Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)]] || 708
|-
| align="left"|[[Jan Surajya Shakti]] || 700
|-
| align="left"|[[West Bengal Socialist Party]] || 604
|-
| align="left"|[[Gorkhaland National Liberation Front]] || 453
|-
| align="left"|[[Rashtriya Parivartan Dal]] || 416
|-
| align="left"|[[Gondvana Ganatantra Party]] || 393
|-
| align="left"|[[United Goans Democratic Party]] || 372
|-
| align="left"|[[All Jharkhand Students Union]] || 352
|-
| align="left"|[[Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi]] || 352
|-
| align="left"|[[Peasants and Workers Party of India]] || 350
|-
| align="left"|[[Orissa Gana Parishad]] || 298
|-
| align="left"|[[Janata Party]] || 296
|-
| align="left"|[[Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers Party]] || 288
|-
| align="left"|[[Rashtriya Samanta Dal]] || 262
|-
| align="left"|[[Akhil Bharatiya Loktantrik Congress]] || 208
|-
| align="left"|[[Bharatiya Janshakti Party]] || 208
|-
| align="left"|[[Jan Morcha]] || 208
|-
| align="left"|[[Rashtriya Swabhimaan Party]] || 208
|-
| align="left"|[[Uttar Pradesh United Democratic Front]] || 208
|-
| align="left"|[[Uttarakhand Kranti Dal]] || 192
|-
| align="left"|[[Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam]] || 176
|-
| align="left"|[[Jharkhand Party]] || 176
|-
| align="left"|[[Akhil Bharitiya Sena]] || 175
|-
| align="left"|[[Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangha]] || 175
|-
| align="left"|[[Akhil Jan Vikas Party]] || 173
|-
| align="left"|[[Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra]] || 156
|-
| align="left"|[[United Democratic Party (India)|United Democratic Party]] || 153
|-
| align="left"|[[Congress (Secular)]] || 152
|-
| align="left"|[[Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran)]] || 152
|-
| align="left"|[[Indian National League]] || 152
|-
| align="left"|JSS || 152
|-
| align="left"|[[Kerala Congress (Balakrishna)]] || 152
|-
| align="left"|[[Kerala Congress (Secular)]] || 152
|-
| align="left"|[[Democratic Socialist Party (Prabodh Chandra)|Democratic Socialist Party]] || 151
|-
| align="left"|[[Jharkhand Party (Naren)]] || 151
|-
| align="left"|[[Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha]] || 131
|-
| align="left"|[[Kannada Nadu Party]] || 131
|-
| align="left"|[[Republican Party of India]] || 131
|-
| align="left"|[[Rajasthan Samajik Nyaya Manch]] || 129
|-
| align="left"|[[Asom Gana Parishad (Pragatishel)]] || 116
|-
| align="left"|[[Autonomous State Demand Committee]] || 116
|-
| align="left"|[[Loko Sanmilon]] || 116
|-
| align="left"|[[Manipur People's Party]] || 90
|-
| align="left"|[[Democratic Movement (India)|Democratic Movement]] || 72
|-
| align="left"|[[Jammu & Kashmir Awami League]] || 72
|-
| align="left"|[[Meghalaya Democratic Party]] || 68
|-
| align="left"|[[Rashtriya Janata Dal|National People's Party]] || 54
|-
| align="left"|[[Himachal Vikas Congress]] || 51
|-
| align="left"|[[Loktantrik Morcha Himachal Pradesh]] || 51
|-
| align="left"|[[Nationalist Democratic Movement]] || 45
|-
| align="left"|[[Pondicherry Munnetra Congress]] || 48
|-
| align="left"|[[Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party]] || 40
|-
| align="left"|[[Save Goa Front]] || 40
|-
| align="left"|[[Hill State People's Democratic Party]] || 34
|-
| align="left"|[[Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement]] || 34
|-
| align="left"|[[Mizoram People's Conference]] || 24
|-
| align="left"|[[Arunachal Congress]] || 16
|-
| align="left"|[[Zoram Nationalist Party]] || 16
|-
| align="left"|[[Hmar People's Convention]] || 8
|-
| align="left"|[[Maraland Democratic Front]] || 8
|-
| align="left"|[[Independent (politician)|Independents]] || 32,202
|}

Figures are based upon [https://web.archive.org/web/20070623203758/http://archive.eci.gov.in/ Wayback Machine] and [http://rajyasabha.nic.in Rajya Sabha]. Figure on [[Lok Sabha]] and [[Vidhan Sabha]] seats do not take into consideration splits, mergers, defections, expulsions and [[by-elections]] after general elections have been held.

==Know Pratibha Patil==
Know Pratibha Patil is part of the political campaign launched by the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) for the presidential election of 2007. It consists of a website and a [[PDF]] booklet (titled "Presidential Election 2007"), created by the BJP under the banner of Project India. Both contain the party's allegation in the form of a compilation of articles from various media. While announcing the website at a press conference, the BJP party general secretary [[Arun Jaitley]] also distributed a printed form of the booklet and described it as a compilation of articles / editorials from newspapers on the Presidential contest.<ref name="hindureport">BJP creates website on Pratibha Patil [https://web.archive.org/web/20070713223435/http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/11/stories/2007071160921500.htm The Hindu – 11 July 2007]</ref><ref>BJP launches website against Pratibha [http://www.saharasamay.com/samayhtml/articles.aspx?newsid=79683 Sahara Samay – 10 July 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927205723/http://www.saharasamay.com/samayhtml/articles.aspx?newsid=79683 |date=27 September 2007 }}</ref>

The stated objective of the site is to "educate the people about [[Pratibha Patil]], the nominee of UPA and [[Indian left]] for Indian presidential election scheduled on 19 July 2007". To support this, the website consists of various sections like 'Cartoon,' 'Pratibhaspeak' and 'UPA Doublespeak' and includes links to video clippings and articles that refer to the various allegations levelled against Pratibha Patil.

The website declares :
{{cquote|Even though the people do not elect the Rashtrapati, they have a vital stake in the Presidential poll since the winner will become head of the Republic of India. They have a right to know whether the likely winner is worthy of becoming the Head of State of the world's largest democracy. The need to know whether the person embodies, as far as possible, the lofty ideals enshrined in the [[Constitution of India]], of which he or she will be the custodian, or he/she will be a rubber stamp of those who have catapulted him/her to the high Office. }}

BJP leader [[Arun Jaitley]] talking to news-persons called the website a "campaign to provide an informed choice to the electorate (the electoral college)". "The voter has a right to the information about the candidate he is voting for. This effort is intended for an informed choice of the electorate," Jaitley said.<ref name="timesreport"/>

Arun Jaitley did not respond when asked what would happen to the [[Right to Information Act|right of information]] when people are "informed" only about one of the two presidential candidates. He said the website would vanish after 21 July, when the presidential election result will be out.

However, the website can still be viewed via archive.org<ref>{{cite web |title=Know Pratibha Patil |url=http://www.knowpratibhapatil.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715091859/http://www.knowpratibhapatil.com/ |access-date=22 July 2021|archive-date=15 July 2007 }}</ref>

An INC spokesperson commented:
{{cquote|The exercise is futile and aimed at denigrating the office of President and maligning an individual.... There is a frustrated section in the BJP, a queer combination of the senile and juvenile that was denigrating institutions.<ref>Bid to malign her, says Congress [https://web.archive.org/web/20070714014913/http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/11/stories/2007071160941500.htm The Hindu] – 11 July 2007</ref>}}

===BJP division ===
''[[The Times of India]]'' BJP leaders had initially looked divided over supporting this campaign against Pratibha Patil. Party chief Rajnath Singh seemed reluctant to be drawn into a "personal attack" while senior party leader [[L. K. Advani]] spoke at length on the "pliant President" issue at the party's national executive last month.<ref name="timesreport">Know Patil better: BJP puts up website [https://web.archive.org/web/20121017080718/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-07-11/india/27950564_1_bjp-leaders-website-bjp-mp "Know Patil better: BJP puts up website"] ''Times of India'', 11 July 2007</ref> Daily News and Analysis also reported on the apparent differences among senior leaders on this campaign and had this quote:
{{cquote|"Rajnath Singh has virtually dissociated himself from all this. Nor has there been any statement so far by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee attacking Patil," a party functionary said.<ref>BJP divided over campaign against Patil [http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1109379 "Bid to malign her, says Congress"] DNA. 11 July 2007</ref>}}

==Results==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!  
! MPs
! MLAs
! Total
|-
! [[Pratibha Patil]]
| 312,936
| 325,180
| 638,116
|-
! [[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]]
| 164,256
| 167,050
| 331,306
|}

Source: {{cite news | url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070019764 | title=India gets first woman president | publisher=NDTV.com | date=21 July 2007 | accessdate=21 July 2007 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817142617/http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070019764 | archivedate=17 August 2007 | df=dmy-all }}
==See also==
* [[2007 Indian presidential election]]
==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081207201816/http://www.eci.gov.in/ Election Commission of India Official Site]
*[http://presidentofindia.nic.in/ President of India Official Site]

{{Indian presidential elections}}

[[Category:2007 elections in India]]
[[Category:Presidential elections in India|2007]]

2007 Indian presidential election - Revision history

Rik at 13:14, 16 November 2025