The battle lines are drawn. With the UPA announcing Meira Kumar as its candidate for the presidential elections, the fight is now between Ms. Kumar and Ram Nath Kovind, the NDA's pick for the post.
Here is what you need to know about the two candidates:
Ram Nath Kovind | Meira Kumar |
| Born October 1, 1945 | Born on March 31, 1945 |
| He was born Born in Kanpur Dehat district, Uttar Pradesh | She was born in Arrah district, Bihar |
| He was the Governor of Bihar from 2015 to 2017 | She was elected unopposed as the first woman Speaker of Lok Sabha and served from 2009 to 2014. |
| He was a lawyer who practised in the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court for 16 years | She is also a lawyer and former diplomat |
| The Dalit leader first stepped into politics in 1994 when he was elected as a Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh. He served for two consecutive terms for 12 years till March, 2006. | Meira Kumar entered electoral politics in 1985. She was elected from Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh, defeating two Dalit leaders Ram Vilas Paswan and Mayawati. She lost her seat in 1999. Howeever, she was re-elected with a majority from Sasaram in Bihar in 2004 and 2009 |
| Mr. Kovind served as a member of the Board of Management of Dr. B.R Ambedkar University, Lucknow. He was also a member of the Board of Governors of Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata. | She is the daughter of freedom fighter and former deputy PM Jagjivan Ram |
| Being the NDA candidate, he enjoys the support of BJP and its allies, Shiv Sena and PDP. The JD(U) and both the factions of AIADMK have also pledged support. | 17 parties including Congress, Left, NCP, RJD and DMK have come out in support of Meira Kumar |
| He represented India in the United Nations in New York and addressed United Nations General Assembly in October, 2002. | She has been a part of India's Mission in Spain and United Kingdom |
