India May Get Its First Tribal, Second Woman President

Droupadi Murmu, Ex-J'khand Guv Is NDA's choice

- Akhilesh Singh

New Delhi: India may finally get its first tribal President, with ruling party BJP naming Droupadi Murmu (64), a tribal from Odisha, as its candidate for the top constitutional office, reports Akhilesh Singh.

BJP chief JP Nadda declared Murmu's candidature after a meeting of the BJP parliamentary board approved what is widely considered to be PM Narendra Modi's choice for Rashtrapati Bhavan. "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," tweeted the PM.

All allies consulted over Murmu's candidature'

New Delhi: Even as the BJPled NDA, which is short of majority in the electoral college, is confident of making up the shortfall with the help of regional players like BJD's Naveen Patnaik and YSRCP's Jagan Mohan Reddy-chief ministers of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh respectively its pick of tribal candidate Droupadi Murmu appears a favourite to replace incumbent Ramnath Kovind, a dalit from UP, in Rashtrapati Bhavan after the July 18 polls.