A tribal leader, former governor and minister in Navin Patnaik’s cabinet Draupadi Murmu is the BJP led NDA’s choice for president’s post

After several rounds of hectic discussions and deliberations, the Bhartiya Janata Party’s Parliamentary Board has finalised the name of the former governor of Jharkhand, former minister in the government of Navin Patnaik in Odissa and a serious contender before 2017 presidential election Draupadi Murmu who is a tribal woman and originally hails from Odissa. 64 year old Ms Murmu’s name was announced by the BJP national chief J. P. Nadda in a press conference at party headquarter after the BJP’s Parliamentary Board attended by prime minister Narendra Modi, union home minister Amit Shah, union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh, JP Nadda and national general secretary BJP B. L. Santosh cleared it after discussing on over twenty names. According to the chief minister of Odisha the prime minister Narendra Modi had personally interacted with him telephonically to convey the decision of the BJP parliamentary party to decide of the name of Draupadi Murmu who is from Odisha and a tribal leader having worked under him as a minister.

The Governor of Kerala Arif Mohammed Khan and Vice president Venkahiah Naidu were the front runners earlier but finally a consensus was arrived at in the BJP’s parliamentary board held this evening after the union home minister Amit Shah and J. P Nadda went to meet the vice president at his house to convey their feelings. The consideration of the name of the tribal leader Draupadi Murmu by BJP high command is being welcomed by everyone in BJP reveal sources as elections in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh are to be held next year and it will help the saffron party to a great extent not only in these states but nationally as well.

Now Draupadi Murmu will be the second woman and first tribal president of the largest democracy of the world. Addressing the press conference at the BJP headquarter, party chief Nadda said that eventually a consensus was arrived at in the BJP’s parliamentary Board meeting on the name of a tribal woman of East India out of total twenty names that were discussed in depth. The Bhartiya Janata Party which already has 49% votes in the electoral college is now expecting the Aam Admi Party and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s support as well in favour of its tribal presidential woman candidate say sources. Meanwhile, the non BJP opposition parties have singled out the name of former BJP leader and former union finance minister Yashwant Sinha’s name who had joined TMC earlier. The former governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah had rejected the request of opposition leaders to contest as their presidential candidate. After the finalisation of the name of Draupadi Murmu as the BJP led NDA candidate for presidential elections prime minister Narendra Modi has tweeted : Millions of people, especially those who have experienced poverty and faced hardships, derive great strength from the life of Smt. Draoupdi Murmu Ji. Her understanding of policy matters and compassionate nature will greatly benefit our country.

The Odisha chief minister Navin Patnaik in whose cabinet Draupadi Murmu was the minister congratulated her on her elevation as the NDA presidential candidate tweeting : Congratulations Smt #DraupadiMurmu on being announced as candidate of NDA for the country’s highest office. I was delighted when Hon’ble PM @narendramodi ji discussed this with me. It is indeed a proud moment for the people of #Odisha tweeted CM Navin Patnaik.

Union home minister Amit Shah has while lauding the prime minister Narendra Modi contribution towards tribal community’s well being and welfare tweeted : under PM’ Modi’s leadership during the last 8 years the upgradation in the stature and of tribals of the country, women empowerment and raising the pride and dignity of women especially of SC n ST communities and its women are incomparable which bo governments have done ever. Selecting the name if Mrs Draupadi Murmu for the presidential post is the greatest moment for the country which will enable taking the tribal pride to new heights. We are grateful and thanks to Prime minister Narendra Modi. I congratulate Murmuji and am sure she will win for sure tweeted union home minister Amit Shah expressing his profound Jubilation.