India elects first female president , official results show Saturday . The Indian National Congress party has elected its first-ever woman president, Sonia Gandhi of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a landslide victory over her nearest rival Rahul Gandhi, son of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Bitter election campaign was marked by scandal . and this is a victory for the principles which our Indian people uphold . '' 72-year-old Patil was the ruling coalition 's nominee for mainly ceremonial post .
India elects first female president , official results show Saturday . The Indian National Congress party has elected its first-ever woman president, Sonia Gandhi of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a landslide victory over her nearest rival Rahul Gandhi, son of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Bitter election campaign was marked by scandal . 72-year-old Patil was the ruling coalition 's nominee for mainly ceremonial post .