Prez polls: 2 Odisha ministers to attend Draupadi Murmu's nomination filing tomorrow

BJP-led NDA's Presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu on Thursday left for Delhi from Bhubaneswar amid tight security. She will file her nomination papers tomorrow (June 24) for the upcoming presidential election.

Following a discussion with BJP national president JP Nadda, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik informed that ministers Jagannath Saraka and Tukuni Sahu will sign the nomination papers and attend the nomination filing of Murmu tomorrow.

The presidential election is scheduled to be held on July 18 and the votes will be counted on July 21. Murmu will be up against Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha for the top constitutional post of the country.

Earlier in the morning, Murmu left from MCL guest house in Bhubaneswar to board the flight to Delhi from Bhubaneswar Airport at 9.40 am. People from all sections of society gathered at MCL guest house to greet Murmu who has been provided Z plus security. Special arrangements have also been made at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar for the people to extend greetings to her.

The BJP has invited all of its allies to join in the nomination ceremony including the chief ministers of NDA-ruled states. 

Besides, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also made an appeal to all MLAs of Odisha to support Murmu’s candidature.

Notably, Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is not an ally of the NDA but is often seen supporting the NDA government on crucial bills and legislature.

Patnaik openly came out and endorsed the candidature of Murmu, who hails from Odisha, for the upcoming presidential election.

However, as per State Congress, decision on extending support to Murmu will be taken by the party high command.

Considering the numbers of NDA, Droupadi Murmu is all set to become the next President of India and if that comes through, she will be India’s first woman tribal President and the second woman President since independence.