The BJP-led NDA on Tuesday announced former Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu as its candidate for the upcoming Presidential elections.
Murmu would become the first tribal President of India and second ever female President if she is elected. “For the first time, preference has been given to a woman tribal candidate,” BJP National President JP Nadda said.
Hailing from Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district and coming from a tribal community, she became MLA twice on BJP ticket from Rairangpur in Mayurbhanj (2000 and 2009).
Murmu was also a national executive member of the Hindutva party’s ST Morcha from 2013 to 2015.
Murmu said she was suprised as well as delighted by the announcement, PTI reported. She added that she will request the Biju Janata Dal for support as a “daughter of the soil”.
In a tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “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.”
