Mukherjee to visit Rajghat before presidential swearing-in on Wednesday

New Delhi, July 24 (ANI): President-elect Pranab Mukherjee is expected to visit Rajghat, Mahatma Gandhi's memorial, early on Wednesday morning, hours before being sworn-in as India's 13th president in the Central Hall of Parliament.

According to a Times of India report, the swearing-in ceremony will take place at 11.30 a.m. in the Central Hall of Parliament. Chief Justice of India S H Kapadia will administer the oath of office in the presence of Vice-President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Union ministers, governors, chief ministers and a host of dignitaries.

The President-elect is learnt to have indicated to the protocol wing that 17 of his family members, relatives and close aides may attend the swearing-in function. The protocol wing has been requested to arrange a wheelchair for one of the relatives.

The function will begin with the arrival of President Pratibha Patil and Mukherjee in a ceremonial procession from Rashtrapati Bhavan to the Parliament building. They will be received by Chief Justice Kapadia, Vice-President Ansari and Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and escorted to Central Hall.

After Mukherjee takes over, he will be given a 21-gun salute, will address the gathering of parliamentarians and then leave for Rashtrapati Bhavan with Patil.

Mukherjee will then be given an inter-services guard of honour in the forecourt of the presidential palace. He will then escort Patil to her temporary accommodation at 2, Tughlak Lane where she will stay till her post-retirement home in Pune is ready. (ANI with inputs)