Odisha BJP unit lauds Draupadi Murmu’s Presidential candidature as Purvodaya from Purva Bharat

The Odisha unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday went gaga praising PM Modi after Draupadi Murmu was nominated as NDA’s Presidential candidate on Tuesday night.

Terming it as Purvodaya from Purva Bharat, Odisha BJP chief Sameer Mohanty said, this is another gift from PM Modi to the people of Odisha.

“The historic decision by Prime Minister Modi has many implications. In fact, it is a matter of pride for the 4.5 crore Odias in the State. The decision to field Draupadi Murmu as Presidential candidate, PM Modi has yet again proved that Purvodaya can only be achieved through Odisha,” he said.

Here's a look at Draupadi Murmu's political journey

“It is beyond our imagination how a woman belonging to a poor family who has overcome many adversities in her life has emerged as such a strong leader and personality,” Mohanty added.

BJP president JP Nadda had announced the NDA's candidates for the presidential elections on Tuesday. "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 elections," he said.

As per reports, the BJP parliamentary board discussed 20 names for the presidential nominee and finally, it was decided to pick someone from east India, a tribal and a woman.

Murmu, born on June 20, 1958, was the Minister of State with Independent charge for Commerce and transport from March 6, 2000 to August 6, 2002 and Fisheries and Animal Resources Development from August 6, 2002 to May 16, 2004, during the BJP and BJD coalition government in Odisha.

Murmu was the first woman governor of Jharkhand, and thus became the first woman and tribal leader of Odisha to be the governor of an Indian State. Now, she is living in her village in Rairangpur.

Notably, the election for the President of India will be held on July 18 and the counting will take place in New Delhi on July 21. Worth mentioning, the tenure of current President of India Ram Nath Kovind is coming to an end on July 24.