NDA presidential nominee Droupadi Murmu, who will file her nomination papers on June 24, is comfortably placed with JD(U), one of the key constituents of the alliance, and BJD extending support to her to become the first tribal to occupy the top constitutional post.
On Wednesday, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is visiting the Vatican where he met the Pope, urged all elected lawmakers from the state to vote for Murmu. BJD sources said the party is likely to be present during the nomination process, while a party MP may also be a proposer.
Nitish Kumar said PM had called him on Tuesday to inform that Murmu was being made the NDA candidate for the President’s post. “ Heartiest thanks to the PM for selecting a tribal woman who has proven her mettle as a minister in Odisha and also during her gubernatorial stint in Jharkhand ”.