NDA picks Droupadi Murmu for presidential polls, likely to file nomination on June 25
New Delhi, June 22: Draupadi Murmu, the former Governor of Jharkhand former Odisha minister, has been named as the BJP-led NDA's candidate for the upcoming Presidential elections. If elected, Murmu will be India's first tribal president and the country's second female president.
The sources on Tuesday said that Murmu is likely to file her nomination on June 25.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday announced former Minister of Finance and External Affairs Yashwant Sinha as the common candidate of the Opposition parties for the Presidential election.
The presidential election will take place on July 18, 2022, and votes will be counted on July 21. The late date for filing nominations is June 29.
Speaking about her candidature, Murmu on Tuesday said that she was "surprised" and was unable to believe it. Murmu further noted that she will work according to the powers of the President enshrined in the constitution.
Talking about the election, she said that she will reach out to members of the electoral college for their support. "I am surprised, I was not able to believe it. I am thankful, do not wish to speak much (at this stage)," the former Jharkhand Governor said. "Whatever powers are there of President in Constitution, I will work accordingly," she added.
"There are candidates. Our work is to go to people, reach out to the members of the electoral college and seek their cooperation. I will request all parties, and states for support," she added.
Who is Droupadi Murmu?
Droupadi Murmu is the first presidential candidate from Odisha. She is the first woman governor of Jharkhand and continues to break boundaries. She was the Governor of Jharkhand from 2015 until 2021.
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Coming from a modest tribal family in the village of Mayurbhanj, a backward district in Odisha, Murmu completed her studies despite challenging circumstances.
Born on June 20, 1958, she pursued BA at Ramadevi Women's College Bhubaneswar and taught at Shri Aurobindo Integral Education Centre, Rairangpur.
Murmu started her political career as Rairangpur NAC vice-chairman and was a member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly from Rairangpur between 2000 and 2004.
She has held portfolios of Transport and Commerce, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries and served as MLA in the Odisha assembly from 2004 to 2009.
The Odisha assembly awarded her the 'Nilakantha Award' for best MLA in 2007. Between 1979 and 1983, she worked as a junior assistant in the Irrigation and Power Department. She has held many positions in the BJP, including vice president of the state ST Morcha in 1997.
Droupadi Murmu was a member of the BJP's ST Morcha's national executive from 2013 to 2015 and was the BJP district head of Mayurbhanj (West) between 2010 and 2013. She was the head of the BJP's ST Morcha in Odisha from 2006 to 2009. From 2002 to 2009, she was a member of the BJP ST Morcha's national executive.
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-PTC News
