India’s former Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the candidate of the Indian National Congress Party elected India’s 13^th President last Thursday, will be sworn in on Wednesday, replacing Pratibha Patil, India’s first female President.

Pranab Mukherjee the candidate of the Indian National Congress Party elected India’s 13th President last Thursday (Photo: Internet)

According to preliminary results announced by the Indian Election Commission, Murkherjee received more than 558 thousand votes against 240 thousand votes for his rival candidate Sangma, former speaker of India’s lower house of Parliament. Investors hope Mukherjee will push market reforms such as opening up India’s retail sector to foreign investment, which is needed to resolve problems in the food supply.