Maharashtra cheers President-elect Kovind

Mumbai, July 21: Top political leaders from Maharashtra cutting across party lines on Thursday congratulated Ram Nath Kovind on his election as the new President of India.

Governor C.V. Rao, congratulating Kovind, wished him "a successful tenure in the service of the people", in a message.

Wishing Kovind "a very fruitful tenure", Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that it signals the start of a new era in the country.

"With his rich experience in social and political spheres, with his election as the President of the world's largest democracy, he will definitely show a new direction," Fadnavis said in a message.

State Bharatiya Janata Party President Raosaheb Patil-Danve congratulated and wished Kovind "a very fruitful tenure" in the top post.

Ally Shiv Sena's youth leader Aditya Thackeray congratulated Kovind on his election "with such a thumping majority".

Former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Narayan Rane expressed best wishes to Kovind, while Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar heartily congratulated Kovind and expressed his "best wishes for a successful tenure" as President.

The leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde (NCP) expressed hope that Kovind's leadership "will make us a strong nation."

State Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant offered solace to Kovind's opponent Meira Kumar. "You fought for the national cause like a true warrior. Your efforts will not go in vain. We all will follow you."

Other prominent personalities who welcomed Kovind's election include Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Prakash Javadekar, Piyush Goyal.

Earlier, soon after the election outcome was announced in New Delhi, celebrations erupted at the state BJP headquarters in Mumbai.

Hundreds of party activists burst firecrackers, danced and played the drums, distributed sweets and hugged each other cheering Kovind's victory.

Similar celebrations were witnessed in other parts of the state including Thane, Pune, Nagpur and Kolhapur.

Incidentally, Maharashtra was the last port of call for Kovind during the campaigning for the Presidential elections when he visited Mumbai on July 15, two days before the elections.