Pratibha Patil was elected India's new president yesterday, the first woman to hold the office in the nation's six decades of independence. Patil, the ruling coalition's 72-year-old nominee for the mainly ceremonial post, easily beat opposition-backed challenger and 84-year-old Vice President, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

Patil, a native of western Maharashtra state, defeated Shekhawat by a large margin, securing 66 per cent of the votes cast by an electoral college of federal and state legislators.

The governor of the northwestern Rajasthan state, she emerged on the national stage when the Congress-led coalition and its Communist allies failed to agree on a joint candidate.

Shortly after Patil was declared elected, Shekhawat drove to Rashtrapati Bhavan and submitted his resignation to President A P J Abdul Kalam.

In his brief resignation letter, he thanked Kalam for his co-operation and guidance.

Analysts say Patil has a tough act to follow in the form of India's popular outgoing President Abdul Kalam.

Patil was buffeted by accusations that she protected her brother in a murder probe and shielded her husband in a suicide scandal in a campaign.

There were also claims of nepotism and involvement in a slew of financial scams.

But she has denied any wrongdoing.

PHOTO CAPTION

Indian Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat celebrates after his election victory in 2002. (AFP)