DroupadiMurmu, BJP-led NDA, presidential candidate, may soon become India’s first Adivasi leader

*Paromita Das

The former governor of Jharkhand, DroupadiMurmu, was named the NDA’s presidential candidate for the July 18, 2022, elections on June 21. The NDA is led by the BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP). Prime Minister NarendraModi presided over a BJP Parliamentary Board meeting prior to the announcement. In a press conference held after the board meeting, BJP Chief JP Nadda declared Murmu’s candidacy. On June 25, she will submit her nomination.

After the announcement, she told ANI, “I’m surprised. I struggled to accept it. Although I’m grateful, I don’t want to talk much. I will exercise whatever presidential powers are granted by the Constitution. “Our work is to go to people, reach out to members of the Electoral College, and ask for their assistance,” she continued.
According to reports, she has been given round-the-clock Z+ category security protection by armed members of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Centre provides round-the-clock Z+ category security cover by armed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel to NDA presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu from today: Officials

(File photo) pic.twitter.com/FYDWJ0ficX

— ANI (@ANI) June 22, 2022

Murmu has been involved in politics for more than 20 years. She was born on June 20, 1958, in the village of Uparbeda, district Mayurbhanj, to a Santal Tribal family.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Ramadevi Women’s College in Bhubaneswar and then worked for the Odisha government from 1979 to 1983 as a Junior Assistant in the Irrigation and Power Department. She began working as a teacher at the Sri Aurobindo Integral Education Center in Rairangpur in 1994 and remained there until 1997. She had three children after getting married to ShyamCharanMurmu. She lost her husband and two sons. ItishriMurmu, her married daughter, lives in Bhubaneshwar and works at UCO Bank. Ganesh Hembram, Itishree’s husband, plays rugby, and the young couple have a young daughter.

She was chosen to serve on the Rairangpur NAC in 1997 after being elected as a councilor. She was elected to the same constituency as an MLA.

He was appointed Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Transport and Commerce in the Odisha government in 2000, and he held that position until 2004, during which time the BJP was in a coalition with Naveen Patnaik’s BJD. She served as Minister of State for the Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries during the same time period. Murmu served on the national executive of the BJP’s ST Morcha from 2002 to 2009. From 2006 to 2009, she held the position of state president for the same. She worked as a national executive member of ST Morcha from 2013 to April 2015.

She held the position of Honorable Governor of Jharkhand from 2015 to 2021. She served as the state’s first female governor as well as the first female tribal chieftain to hold the position of governor in an Indian state.

Murmu received the “Neelkanth Award for Best MLA” from the Odisha Legislative Assembly in 2007. Murmu will be India’s first tribal president once he is elected. After former President PratibhaPatil, who presided from 2007 to 2012, she will be the country’s second female leader. Murmu will become Odisha’s first-ever elected president.

A chorus of congratulations from leaders outside of her party followed the announcement of her candidacy for president. “Smt. DroupadiMurmuJi has dedicated her life to serving society and empowering the poor, the downtrodden, and the marginalised,” wrote Prime Minister NarendraModi in a letter. She has extensive managerial expertise and a distinguished record as governor. She will make a fantastic president of our country, I’m sure of it.

Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji has devoted her life to serving society and empowering the poor, downtrodden as well as the marginalised. She has rich administrative experience and had an outstanding gubernatorial tenure. I am confident she will be a great President of our nation.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 21, 2022

“Millions of people, especially those who have encountered poverty and adversity, derive great strength from Smt. DroupadiMurmuJi’s life,” he continued. Our nation will benefit greatly from her comprehension of policy issues and compassionate nature.

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.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 21, 2022

“DraupadiMurmuJi has made a special identity in public life by promoting education in the tribal community and serving the public for a significant amount of time as a public representative,” said Home Minister Amit Shah. I wish her luck in running for this honorable position and am confident that she will succeed.

द्रौपदी मुर्मू जी ने जनजातीय समाज में शिक्षा के प्रति जागरूकता फैलाने व जनप्रतिनिधि के रूप में लम्बे समय तक जनसेवा करते हुए सार्वजनिक जीवन में अपनी विशिष्ठ पहचान बनाई है।⁰
इस गरिमामई पद की प्रत्याशी बनने पर उनको शुभकामनाएं देता हूँ व मुझे विश्वास है कि वो निश्चित रूप से जीतेंगी।

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 21, 2022

Candidate for the top job in the nation, said Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik. When Hon. PM NarendraModiJi and I talked about this, I was thrilled. For the people of Odisha, it was undoubtedly a proud moment. Smt. Murmu will undoubtedly serve as a role model for women’s empowerment in the nation.

I am sure Smt Murmu will set a shining example for women empowerment in the country.

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) June 21, 2022

According to JP Nadda, the leader of the BJP, Smt. DroupadiMurmuJi will make a wonderful president for our nation because of her extensive administrative experience, long record of selfless social service, and unwavering zeal to improve society. It was an honor to announce her as the NDA’s presidential candidate under the direction of the Honorable PM NarendraModiJi. Her character serves as an example for us all and a benchmark to aspire to.

Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji with her rich administrative experience, her great history of self-less social service and relentless zeal to work for the upliftment of society, will make her a great President for our country.

— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) June 21, 2022

He continued, “She has made enormous contributions to our country and has a wealth of knowledge across many different fields that will be very helpful to our nation. Her efforts to improve the lives of society’s marginalised groups are also widely praised.