Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was elected President of India in 2002 by defeating:

In the presidential election of July 2002, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam defeated Captain Lakshmi Sahgal, the candidate of the Left parties, by a very large margin.

The 2002 election:

• Kalam was the candidate of the ruling National Democratic Alliance and was also supported by the Congress.
• Lakshmi Sahgal was nominated by the Left parties.
• Kalam won about 90 per cent of the votes.

About Captain Lakshmi Sahgal:

• She was a doctor and a freedom fighter.
• She was the commander of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, the women's regiment of the Indian National Army (INA) led by Subhas Chandra Bose.
• She was known as "Captain Lakshmi".
• She later worked as a doctor in Kanpur and was a member of the CPI(M).
• She was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1998.

About Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam:

• He was born on 15 October 1931 in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
• He was an aerospace scientist who worked with the DRDO and ISRO.
• He led the development of India's first satellite launch vehicle, the SLV-III, which placed the Rohini satellite in orbit in 1980.
• He led the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, which developed missiles such as Agni and Prithvi, earning him the title "Missile Man of India".
• He played a key role in the Pokhran-II nuclear tests of 1998.
• He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1997, before becoming President.

As President (2002 to 2007):

• He was called the "People's President" because of his popularity, especially among students.
• He was the first scientist and the first bachelor to become President.

Later life:

• He died on 27 July 2015 while giving a lecture at IIM Shillong.
• His birthday, 15 October, is observed as World Students' Day in his honour.

Books:

"Wings of Fire" (autobiography) and "India 2020".

Why not the other options?

• ✗Bhairon Singh Shekhawat lost to Pratibha Patil in 2007.

K.R. Narayanan was Kalam's predecessor.