NEW DELHI: The BJP-led NDA government’s Presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi today.
She went on to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah later in the day.
At the airport, Murmu was received by Union minister of tourism G Kishan Reddy, Union minister of state for external affairs Meenakshi Lekhi, Union minister of tribal affairs Arjun Munda, Union minister for social justice and empowerment Virendra Kumar along with Manoj Tiwari, MP Delhi (North-east) and Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta.
Murmu will file her nomination papers tomorrow at the Parliament in the presence of PM Modi, Shah, Union defence minister Rajnath Singh and BJP president JP Nadda along with the chief ministers of all the BJP-led state governments. The party has extended the invitation to all of its MLAs to join the nomination ceremony.
Meanwhile, after his meeting with Murmu, PM Modi tweeted, “Met Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji. Her Presidential nomination has been appreciated across India by all sections of society. Her understanding of grassroots problems and vision for India’s development is outstanding.”
Met Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji. Her Presidential nomination has been appreciated across India by all sections of society. Her understanding of grassroots problems and vision for India’s development is outstanding. pic.twitter.com/4WB2LO6pu9
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 23, 2022
Meanwhile, Odisha’s chief minister Naveen Patnaik also made a special appeal to all the party MLAs to support Murmu.
Ahead of her visit to the national capital today Murmu visited the Shiva temple in Odisha and swept the floor of the temple before offering her prayers.
“I thank all and seek cooperation from everyone for the presidential election. I will meet all voters (lawmakers) and seek their support before July 18,” said Murmu.
The presidential elections are scheduled to be held on July 18, while the votes will be counted on July 21. Murmu will be contesting against the opposition’s candidate Yashwant Sinha.
Murmu has been provided with Z+ security cover by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) since she’s been named as the presidential candidate of the BJP-led NDA government.
If elected, Murmu will become the first tribal President. She’s also the first woman and tribal from the state of Odisha to be appointed as the Governor of an Indian state.