President Election 2022: Droupadi Murmu (64), a tribal leader and former Jharkhand Governor, has been named as BJP-led NDA's choice for the next President of India.
"Droupadi Murmu 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," tweeted PM Modi after NDA announced its candidate.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, "Proud moment for Odisha to have Draupadi Murmu as NDA's Presidential candidate. I was delighted when PM Modi discussed this with me."
"She will set a shining example for women empowerment in the country," Patnaik added.
The announcement was made by BJP chief JP Nadda after the party's parliamentary meeting attended by PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah among other leaders in Delhi.
Murmu, a former Jharkhand governor, will be the first tribal woman to occupy the top constitutional post if she is elected, a strong possibility as numbers are stacked in favour of the BJP-led NDA.
She will also be the first President of India, hailing from the state of Odisha, and second-ever female, if elected.
Earlier in the day, former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha was named as President candidate by the Opposition | READ MORE
Announcing NDA's candidate for India's next President, JP Nadda said that BJP parliamentary board discussed 20 names for presidential nominee, it was decided to pick someone from east India, a tribal and woman.
Nadda said that the BJP is trying to build a consensus among all the parties.
"After opposition parties announced their candidate, the BJP, after talking to all the NDA allies, decided to field Murmu as its Presidential candidate. Detailed discussions were held on 20 names and a consensus was built that someone from the East and from the tribal community must be made the President of India. After discussions, the Parliamentary board decided to name Droupadi Murmu as the Presidential candidate," Nadda said.
June 29 is the last date for filing nomination for the Presidential poll, while voting will take place on July 18. The counting of votes will take place on July 21.
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