New Delhi, 23 June
NDA’s presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be the first mover to file his nomination papers for the July 18 elections tomorrow. He also met Home Minister Amit Shah.
Editorial: Murmu’s March: Watershed nomination of tribal leader as presidential candidate
Arriving at the Delhi airport to a rousing welcome, 64-year-old Murmu was received by Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda and several BJP workers. Sources said PM Modi will be the first mover to file nominations tomorrow.
have a vision for development
Draupadi Murmu’s understanding of grassroots problems and vision for India’s development is unmatched. Narendra Modi, PM
The BJD has also decided to formally support him. BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said he had deputed two ministers to attend Murmu’s nomination process. Patnaik tweeted with the hashtag #OdishaLeads, “BJP President JP Nadda spoke to me about filing nomination of Draupadi Murmu. My cabinet colleagues Jagannath Sarka and Tukuni Sahu will sign the nomination papers today and attend the program tomorrow. “
The ruling BJP-backed Meghalaya Democratic Alliance is expected to support Murmu with five Congress MLAs suspended for supporting the MDA. Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma said that he has already spoken to most of the coalition leaders.
Growing support for Murmu has already ensured that the NDA candidate will cross the halfway mark in the electoral college for the presidential election, which has 10,86,431 votes.
Murmu, a resident of Mayurbhanj, was earlier a two-time MLA in the Odisha Assembly and a minister of state in the Patnaik-led government. Under the rules, a set of 50 proposers and 50 seconders are required to submit along with the presidential nomination. The BJP is also approaching the YSRCP, which is likely to send its leaders for the event.
Nadda is personally leading the nomination and campaign strategy process for Murmu, who met Modi today.
Meanwhile, Yashwant Sinha, the candidate of the United Opposition, started planning his campaign. Meanwhile, the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, which works for tribal welfare, urged all parties to elect Murmu unanimously.