New Delhi: Draupadi Murmu, the ruling NDA's candidate for the presidential election, is a tribal politician from Odisha and a former governor.
Murmu served as the ninth Governor of Jharkhand from 2015 to 2021. She belongs to the Schedule Tribe community from the state of Odisha.
Murmu's name was announced after the BJP parliamentary board met on Tuesday and discussed over 20 shortlisted names for the top post. BJP President JP Nadda said it was decided to pick someone from east India, a tribal and a woman.
"Millions of people, especially those who have experienced poverty and faced hardships, derive great strength from the life of Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji. Her understanding of policy matters and compassionate nature will greatly benefit our country," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after Murmu's name was announced.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was part of the Parliamentary Board meeting, where her name was decided.
The 64-year-old was also considered one of the strongest contender for the post before ahead of the 2017 presidential polls. But eventually, present President Ram Nath Kovind, a Dalit leader, was picked instead.
She started her political career as a councillor, and was elected from Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat in Odisha in 1997. She also served as the vice-president of Bharatiya Janata Party's Scheduled Tribes Morcha.
During the BJP and Biju Janata Dal coalition government in Odisha, Murmu served as the Minister of State with independent charge for Commerce and Transport from March, 2000 to August, 2002, and Fisheries & Animal Resources Development from August, 2002 to May, 2004.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik tweeted congratulating Murmu.
"Congratulations Smt Draupadi Murmu on being announced as candidate of NDA for the country’s highest office. I was delighted when Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi ji discussed this with me. It is indeed a proud moment for people of Odisha," he said. (UNI)