Victory has bestowed great responsibility: Pratibha

Pratibha Patil on Saturday said the victory in the presidential election had bestowed on her a great responsibility and trust to fulfill it.

"This (the victory) is a greater responsibility and an even greater trust," Pratibha told PTI soon after the official announcement of her win over National Democratic Alliance-backed independent candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat with a big margin of over three lakh vote value.

"I am very happy about the win," she said.

Earlier, talking to reporters, she described her win as the "victory of the principles", which the people of the country uphold.

"I am grateful to the voters. I am grateful to the people of India, the men and women of India," she said.

"This is the victory of the principles, which our Indian people uphold," Pratibha, the first woman to occupy the country's highest office, told mediapersons waiting outside her residence in Delhi.

Pratibha, who emerged victorious in perhaps the most bitterly fought presidential election, flashed the victory sign.

Lok Sabha Secretary General P D T Achary, the returning officer for the poll, visited Pratibha at her temporary South
Avenue residence and handed over the certificate of her election to the highest office in the country.

A large crowd of supporters gathered outside her residence to celebrate her victory as leaders arrived to congratulate her.