New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), on Tuesday, announced the name of former Jharkhand governor Draupadi Murmu as the Presidential candidate for the upcoming elections for the office of the President of India. If elected, she would be the first President to belong to a tribal background. The BJP Parliamentary party, which met on Tuesday, discussed the name of Murmu, the former Jharkhand governor and tribal leader.
“For the first time, preference has been given to a woman tribal candidate. We announce Draupadi Murmu as NDA’s candidate for the upcoming Presidential elections… BJP parliamentary board discussed 20 names for presidential nominee, it was decided to pick someone from east India, a tribal & woman,” BJP chief JP Nadda said while announcing the name of Murmu as the Presidential candidate of the BJP.
“Like Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Draupadi Murmu has been associated with the field of education for a long time and has been a legislator and a minister,” he further added. Among other key appointments, Murmu has headed the transport and commerce departments in the government of Odisha and has won the Neelkanth award for legislator in 2007.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also welcomed the announcement of Murmu’s name as the BJP’s Presidential candidate and said that “this decision will elevate tribal pride to new heights.” “I congratulate PM Narendra Modi for this decision,” Shah said in a tweet.
“I welcome Draupadi Murmu’s name as the Presidential candidate. She is a capable and deserving candidate; has worked in different roles & responsibilities including for the poor, tribals, and women. She’ll fulfill her responsibilities even at this post,” said Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.
Responding to the development, Murmu said that she was ‘pleasantly surprised’ by the announcement of her name. “Surprised as well as delighted on learning to be NDA’s Presidential candidate,” she said, news agency PTI reported. She further said that she would request Biju Janata Dal (BJD) for support in Presidential polls as the daughter of the soil.
“Hope all Odisha MPs and MLAs will support me as I was MLA from state twice and Minister in BJD-BJP government,” she said.
With this, the stage is set for a contest between Yashwant Sinha, the Opposition’s choice for the nominee of the President of India, and Murmu, the NDA’s choice. “We have given a candidate who can truly serve as the custodian of the constitution & stop the current government from doing further damage to Indian Democracy & India’s social fabric. A committee has been formed to steer Shri Sinha’s campaign which will start working from today,” said NCP chief Sharad Pawar, while backing the Opposition’s choice.
