The BJP-led NDA on Tuesday named former Jharkhand governor and tribal leader Draupadi Murmu as its presidential candidate for the upcoming elections. The announcement came hours after opposition parties including Congress, NCP and TMC chose former Union minister Yashwant Sinha as their candidate.
“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 election,” BJP chief JP Nadda said during a press conference while making the announcement.
Meanwhile, praising Murmu, PM Modi said on Twitter, millions of people, especially those who have experienced poverty and faced hardships, draw a lot of strength from the life of Smt. Draupadi Murmu Mr. Our country will be greatly benefited by his understanding and compassionate nature of policy matters.
Smt. Prime Minister said that Draupadi Murmu ji has dedicated her life to serve the society and empower the poor, downtrodden as well as marginalized people.
Why did BJP field Draupadi Murmu against Yashwant Sinha?
Political pundits called it a clever move on the part of BJP. He says, in the context of presidential elections, Murmu is more likely to be elected against Yashwant Sinha Believing that she is a woman and comes from a humble tribal background.
If elected, Murmu will become India’s first tribal president and the country’s second woman president.
Murmu’s selection as the presidential candidate is in line with the NDA’s thought process, which had elected Ram Nath Kovind to the presidency in 2017. Kovind hails from a small Koli community in Uttar Pradesh, who was born in a mud house of a farmer and became the second Dalit President of India.
Who is Draupadi Murmu?
Draupadi Murmu, 64, began her political career as a councillor, and later became the vice-chairman of the Rairangpur National Advisory Council. She was also the first woman governor of Jharkhand.
She was also a minister in the Naveen Patnaik cabinet, when the BJD ruled the state with the support of the BJP.
Murmu was also considered for the post during 2017 presidential election, However, the then Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind The BJP-led NDA had fielded him as the presidential candidate.
On Tuesday, PM Modi, Amit Shah, JP Nadda and others participated in the NDA meeting regarding the presidential candidature.