This Article is From Jun 22, 2022

"Proud Moment": Naveen Patnaik On Odisha Leader As BJP's President Pick

The BJP on Tuesday named Droupadi Murmu, a tribal leader of the party from Odisha, as the ruling NDA's candidate for the presidential election.

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India News

Droupadi Murmu will be the first person from Odisha to occupy the presidential post if elected. (File)

New Delhi:

Expressing his happiness over the nomination of Droupadi Murmu as the BJP-led NDA's presidential nominee, BJD supremo and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said it was a proud moment for the people of his state.

"I was delighted when Hon'ble PM @narendramodi ji discussed this with me. It is indeed a proud moment for people of Odisha," Mr Patnaik said in a tweet while congratulating Ms Murmu on her candidature.

Mr Patnaik further said he is sure that Ms Murmu "will set a shining example for women empowerment in the country."

The BJP on Tuesday named Ms Murmu, a tribal leader of the party from Odisha, as the ruling NDA's candidate for the presidential election, sending out a significant political message after elevating a Dalit, Ram Nath Kovind, to the top post five years back.

BJP president J P Nadda announced her name at a press conference following a meeting of the party's parliamentary board, which included Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders.

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Ms Murmu, 64, a former Jharkhand governor, will be the first person from Odisha and the first tribal woman to occupy the top constitutional post if she is elected, a strong possibility as numbers are stacked in favour of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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