Extend unanimous support to Odisha’s daughter: said Naveen Patnaik while backing Droupadi Murmu for President

On Wednesday, BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnayak urged to all members of the Odisha Assembly to support NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu in the upcoming presidential election, describing her as the daughter of the state.

Patnaik, who is currently on a tour to Italy, tweeted: “Appeal all the members of Odisha Legislative Assembly, cutting across the party lines, to extend unanimous support to elect the daughter of #Odisha- Smt #DraupadiMurmu to the country’s highest office.”

His appeal came just a day after the BJP-led NDA announced Murmu’s name as its presidential candidate for the July 18 poll.

Patnaik had expressed his elation on Tuesday, over the nomination of Murmu as the NDA’s presidential nominee. He said it was a proud moment for the people of the state.

Droupadi Murmu is a politician from India’s tribal community. If elected, she would be the first President of India from a tribal community of Odisha. She was the first member of the tribal community to have served as the governor of Jharkhand. She was once part of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Cabinet in Odisha when Naveen Patnaik formed the government with the support of the BJP.