“BJP President Shri @JPNadda ji spoke to me about the filing of nomination of Smt #DraupadiMurmu ji for #PresidentElection. My cabinet colleagues Shri @saraka_fan and Smt @TukuniSahu will sign nomination papers today and attend the event tomorrow. #OdishaLeads” tweet by Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik.

After getting the direction from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, two cabinet ministers, Water Resources, Commerce and Transport Minister Tukuni Sahu and Law Minister Jagannath Sarka have signed the nomination paper of NDA Presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu in New Delhi on Thursday. Both will be present tomorrow During the nomination process.

Earlier on the day of the declaration of NDA’s Presidential candidate, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had welcomed the BJP parliamentary board’s move to name Droupadi Murmu. Patnaik had extended his support to Murmu’s candidature through Twitter.

“Congratulations Smt Draupadi Murmu on being announced as candidate of NDA for the country’s highest office. I was delighted when Hon’ble PM narendramodi ji discussed this with me. It is indeed a proud moment for people of Odisha”, “I am sure Smt Murmu will set a shining example for women empowerment in the country”, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik had twitted on Tuesday.

On Wednesday he had also urged all the members of Odisha legislative assembly to vote in favour of Droupadi Murmu in the upcoming presidential elections irrespective of party differences.

“Appeal all the members of Odisha Legislative Assembly, cutting across party lines, to extend unanimous support to elect the daughter of #Odisha – Smt #DraupadiMurmu to the country’s highest office. “Naveen had twitted on Wednesday.

Draupadi Murmu to file nomination for Presidential polls tomorrow ie on June 24. She is set to contest the election on July 18 with her Opponent Jashwant Sinha, a joint opposition candidate. Looking at the numbers, Draupadi is more likely to win.

“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.