US-Iran war CJP protest in Delhi US-Saudi nuclear deal Commonwealth Games 2026 Wildfires in Europe

Presidential poll: BJP-led NDA names former Jharkhand governor Droupadi Murmu as its candidate

If Murmu wins the 18 July poll, then she will become only the second female president of India after Pratibha Patil

FP Staff|Jun 22, 2022, 08:38:02 IST

The ruling BJP-led NDA has chosen former Jharkhand governor Droupadi Murmu as its candidate for the 18 July presidential poll, the alliance announced on Tuesday.The announcement came hours after BJP top brass including PM Narendra Modi held a parliamentary board meeting in New Delhi.Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari, BJP president JP Nadda and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, besides Modi, were part of the deliberations at the party headquarters.Murmu is likely to win the election given the NDA's strong numbers. She will be facing joint Opposition's candidate former Union minister Yashwant Sinha in the poll.Also read: Droupadi Murmu: From a life full of struggles to becoming the first tribal woman nominated for presidentIf Murmu wins the poll, then she will become only the second female president of India after Pratibha Patil. Murmu is the first tribal woman to be nominated for the post of president.Murmu devoted her life to the marginalised: PMTaking to Twitter, PM Modi said that he is confident that "Murmu will be a great President and that she devoted her life to the marginalised."

This is the second time in a row that the NDA has chosen a candidate from a marginalised community. The current President Ram Nath Kovind was a Dalit leader from Uttar Pradesh.With inputs from agenciesRead all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

China has dominated Myanmar’s rare earth mines — now India eyes deal to harness country’s critical minerals

India is deepening rare earth cooperation with Myanmar as New Delhi seeks alternative sources of critical minerals dominated by China, including dysprosium and terbium used in EVs, defence systems and clean energy technologies

6 min read

CJP protest in Delhi: New videos of stone pelting, violence emerge as police, agitators trade charges

Fresh videos of violence that broke out during the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest in Delhi have surfaced, with the police releasing footage showing alleged stone pelting, vandalism and attacks on security personnel

3 min read

'From make in India to launch from India': Skyroot COO on why Vikram-1 could change India’s space sector

Skyroot Aerospace’s successful Vikram-1 mission marks a major milestone for India’s private space sector, as the country seeks to shift from “Make in India” to “Launch from India” and compete in the global commercial satellite launch market

8 min read

Choke terror funding, keep international shipping lanes safe: Jaishankar at Asean Regional Forum

Jaishankar's remarks came against the backdrop of recent terror attacks targeting India and growing threats to commercial shipping amid conflicts in West Asia and Europe

2 min read

PM Modi announces fast-track courts for paper leak cases; CJP responds ‘Dharmendra Pradhan must go’

Amid protests demanding accountability for the leak of medical entrance test Neet and other irregularities in the education system, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that the government has decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks.