Voting begins for India’s next president

Indian leaders began voting for a new figurehead president today, with the father of the country’s missile programme almost certain to win.

Military scientist APJ Abdul Kalam has claimed fear of a nuclear conflict stopped his country and Pakistan from going to war this year.

He is supported by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s ruling coalition as well as the main opposition Congress Party.

His only rival is Lakshmi Sehgal, a woman candidate backed by small Communist parties that control only 10% of the votes.

Sehgal was an aide of Subhas Chandra Bose, who formed the Indian National Army that backed Japan in the Second World War against Britain

About 4,896 legislators - 776 from the national Parliament and 4,120 from legislatures in 30 states - are eligible to vote.

Vote counting was expected to be completed by Thursday. The 12th president is to be sworn in on July 25, replacing Kocheril R Narayanan, the first ‘‘untouchable’’ under the Hindu caste system to become head of state.

The presidency is largely ceremonial, but can influence the government on certain matters or override some government decisions.

In a political crisis, the president can call elections or give a party a chance to form a government.

Kalam, 72, worked in defence and space research for more than four decades before he became Vajpayee’s principal scientific adviser in 1999. He quit earlier this year to teach at a university in southern India.

After being nominated last month, Kalam defended India’s development of nuclear weapons, which has been matched by neighbouring Pakistan.

He said fear of a nuclear holocaust compelled the two nations to pull back from the brink of war this year.