Droupadi Murmu on Thursday, July 21 made history by being elected as India’s first tribal woman president. Murmu aged 64, nominated by the ruling B
Droupadi Murmu on Thursday, July 21 made history by being elected as India’s first tribal woman president.
Murmu aged 64, nominated by the ruling BJP-led NDA, defeated the former Union minister, Yashwant Sinha to become India’s 15th president.
More than 4,800 legislators and parliamentarians cast their votes on Monday to choose between Ms. Murmu and Mr. Sinha for the nation’s top constitutional job, according to Indian Express.
At least 107 opposition politicians cross-voted for Ms. Murmu.
Murmu who was the first female to become Jharkhand’s governor has now become India’s only second female president after Pratibha Patil. She is also the first Odisha-born president.
She will take oath on 25 July, a day after incumbent Ram Nath Kovind’s tenure ends.
Non-NDA parties that backed Murmu included Odisha’s ruling party Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).
Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said that Murmu will be “an outstanding president.”
Murmu’s rival in the presidential race Sinha also congratulated her.
Murmu was born in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district to a family belonging to the Santhal tribe.
Living in one of the state’s most underdeveloped regions, her family struggled with poverty. Despite her family’s difficult situation, she went on to graduate from the Ramadevi Women’s College in Bhubaneswar.
Murmu who belongs to the BJP, was an MLA from Odisha’s Rairangpur. Murmu also served as a minister in the Odisha cabinet.
She was conferred with “Nilakantha Award” for the Best MLA of the year 2007 by the Odisha Assembly. She also served as BJP’s District President for Mayurbhanj (West).
