The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Tuesday announced former Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu name as Presidential candidate for the upcoming elections. Making the announcement, BJP chief JP Nadda said that 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," Nadda said.
The decision was taken during a Parliamentary Board meeting chaired on Tuesday evening. "We all came to the opinion that BJP and NDA, in talks with all our constituent parties, should declare our candidate for the President," Nadda said after the meeting.
Responding to her nomination, Droupadi Murmu said that she was surprised as well as delighted on learning she is NDA’s Presidential candidate.
She is the first woman and a tribal leader from Odisha to be appointed a governor in an Indian state. If elected, Murmu will be the first tribal President of India and the second ever female President. Murmu is also a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. She is the first governor of Jharkhand to complete the five year term, since its formation in the year 2000.
The 64-year-old politician was a BJP minister Naveen Patnaik-led Odisha cabinet when the Biju Janata Dal ruled the state with the support of the saffron party.
Soon after the announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed NDA's decision Murmu has devoted her life to serving society and empowering the poor, downtrodden as well as the marginalised.
"Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji has devoted her life to serving society and empowering the poor, downtrodden as well as the marginalised. She has rich administrative experience and had an outstanding gubernatorial tenure. I am confident she will be a great President of our nation," he tweeted.
"Millions of people, especially those who have experienced poverty and faced hardships, derive great strength from the life of Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji. Her understanding of policy matters and compassionate nature will greatly benefit our country," PM Modi said in another tweet.
Announcement of NDA's Presidential candidate came hours after Opposition parties, including the Congress, the NCP and the TMC, on picked former Union minister Yashwant Sinha as their candidate for the July 18 presidential polls.