Yashwant Sinha's message as votes are cast to elect India's 15th president

Presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha on Monday urged over 4,000 lawmakers across the country to vote for him - “to save democracy” - as polling began to elect India's 15th president.

It's a face-off between Sinha, who has served as union minister in the past, and Droupadi Murmu, backed by the NDA. Murmu, who has numbers stacked in her favour, will be India's first tribal woman president, if elected.

“This election is highly crucial to save democracy. I am hoping that all lawmakers - MPs and MLAs - will vote to save democracy,” Sinha told reporters on Monday, shortly after voting began.

“It's not a mere political battle but a fight against government agencies also," he added, referring to claims by the opposition parties that central agencies were being used by the ruling BJP against rivals.

Yashwant Sinha was picked as the candidate after hectic deliberations as Farooq Abdullah, Sharad Pawar, and Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi's grandson, refused the offer.

Sinha's filing of nomination was too a moment of show of strength for the opposition, which is trying to join forces ahead of the 2024 elections.

However, Murmu has got support from unexpected quarters including the AAP, Congress ally JMM, and Uddhav Thackeray.

The presidential election co-incided with the start of monsoon session on Monday.

Sinha and Murmu have been touring across the country for weeks to seek support from the lawmakers.

The results for the elections will be announced on Thursday while President Ram Nath Kovind's tenure ends on July 24. India's 15th president will take oath on July 25.