Opinion: Singapore's New Indian-Origin President Will Be Closely Watched In India

Singapore, a multi-ethnic and diverse nation known for its political stability, prosperity, and efficient governance, witnessed a historic presidential election when Tharman Shanmugaratnam, a multi-generational Singaporean of Tamil ancestry, secured a landslide victory this week to become the ninth president-elect of the city-state.

Widely regarded as one of Singapore and Asia's most influential and respected political leaders and economists, his election to the highest office marks a watershed moment in Singaporean politics. He secured an overwhelming 70.4 percent of the votes in a three-way race that involved two credible Singaporean Chinese contenders from the majority community. Tharman launched his presidential campaign with the slogan "Respect for All." Chinese, Malays, and Indians constitute 74%, 13%, and 9% of the population, respectively.

Throughout his political career, Tharman has been known for championing racial harmony, social cohesion, and meritocracy, a message that resonated with Singaporeans. After winning the election, he noted how "race was not the only factor in the contest and believed that the results showed that Singaporeans want a non-partisan president."