Leaders cutting across political lines have welcomed the decision of BJP central committee to nominate State former Governor Droupadi Murmu as presidential candidate. Senior BJP leader and Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth had a telephonic conversation with Murmu and congratulated her for her nomination for president post.
Seth said that it is a proud moment for the state and entire country that for the first time any tribal leader will become President holding the top constitutional post. He further said, “Droupadi Murmu becoming the country's first president is a step in fulfilling the dream of tribal icon Birsa Munda.”
The ruling JMM has also welcomed the decision on nomination of Droupadi Murmu as President’s post. Reacting to the development, the ruling JMM in Jharkhand has welcomed the candidature of Murmu for the post of President. She is a deserving candidate, said the party's Central Spokesperson, Manoj Pandey.
"A tribal has been given this opportunity which we welcome. There should be a unanimous selection for the highest post which will be a huge present," he added.
Murmu, a grassroots politician, has many firsts to her credit. She was the first woman and tribal leader from Odisha to be appointed as governor of any state. She served as the governor of Jharkhand from 2015 to 2021, the first governor to complete the term in the state.
Sources said that by naming Murmu as top constitutional post candidate BJP has played a master stroke. The JMM which banks on tribal vote banks will be left with no other alternative but to support Murmu, however, if they go with BJP pick, they will antagonize its ruling coalition partners especially (Congress and RJD). On Tuesday, the opposition alliance headed by Congress named former union minister Yashwant Sinha as their candidate for the Presidential election.
Mumu, who has seen ups and downs in her personal career, her political career started as a councilor from Odisha. She later became two term MLA and minister (between 2000-2004) in the coalition government of the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal-BJP government in the State and her record as being the first governor of Jharkhand to complete the full term (2015-2021).
Murmu's term as Governor has remained uncontroversial. As Governor she returned the controversial acts making amendments in Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act (CNT) and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act (SPT) in view of widespread violent agitation by tribals in the state. The amendment Bills were brought by the then Raghubar Das government.
On several occasions, she questioned decisions of the state governments, but always with constitutional dignity and decency. During her tenure as the ex-officio Chancellor of the Universities, the vacant posts of Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor were appointed in many universities of the state.
Being Governor of Jharkhand she has been credited with bringing many reforms in university education. In order to centralise the enrollment process in the universities and colleges of the state, she created the Chancellor’s portal.
Caption: Presidential nominee Droupadi Murmu. (File)
