Indian lawmakers vote for president, likely a tribal woman

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center, waves after casting his vote in New Delhi, Monday, July 18, 2022. [AP]

Lawmakers began voting Monday to choose India’s next president in an election expected to be won by a tribal woman from India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

The election of Draupadi Murmu is a formality as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP controls enough seats in federal and state legislatures to push its favored candidate. She is also likely to get the support of other regional parties in state assemblies.