New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today congratulated Draupadi Murmu on winning the presidential election. “India is making history,” Prime Minister Modi tweeted after the National Democratic Alliance candidate – now India’s first tribal president – defeated joint opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha.
“At a time when 1.3 billion Indians mark Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, a daughter of India, from a tribal community born in a remote part of eastern India, has been elected our president. Congratulations to Droupadi Murmu ji on this achievement, PM Modi tweeted.
“Droupadi Murmu ji’s life, her early struggles, her rich service and her exemplary success motivate every Indian. She has emerged as a ray of hope for our citizens, especially the poor, marginalized and the oppressed,” Prime Minister Modi said.
President-elect Murmu began public life as a councilor in Odisha and will be written in history as the first tribal president of India and the second woman to hold the position. The former governor of Jharkhand won an easy victory over Mr Sinha.
She is considered deeply spiritual and an avid practitioner of the Brahma Kumaris meditation techniques, a movement she embraced after losing her husband, two sons, mother and brother in six years between 2009 and 2015, PTI news agency reported.
“Droupadi Murmu ji has been an excellent MLA and minister. She had an excellent tenure as governor of Jharkhand. I am sure she will be an excellent president who will lead the front and strengthen India’s development journey,” said Prime Minister modes.
I would like to thank all those MPs and MLAs from all parties who supported Smt’s candidacy. Droupadi Murmu Ji. Her record win bodes well for our democracy.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 21, 2022
“I would like to thank all those MPs and MLAs from all parties who have supported Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji’s candidacy. Her record win bodes well for our democracy,” the prime minister said.
Yashwant Sinha, who ran for president as a fellow opposition candidate, also congratulated President-elect Murmu after the results were announced tonight.
“I join my fellow citizens in congratulating Droupadi Murmu on her victory in the 2022 presidential election. India hopes that as the 15th president of the republic she will act as the custodian of the constitution without fear or favor,” tweeted Mr Sinha .
In a one-page statement admitting defeat, Mr Singh said: “Despite the outcome of the election, I believe it has benefited Indian democracy in two major ways. First, it brought most opposition parties to a common platform. This is indeed the need of the hour, and I urgently appeal to them to continue – and even further strengthen the unity of the opposition after the presidential elections. It must be equally clear in the election of the vice President.”
“Second, in my election campaign court, I tried to put forward the positions, concerns, and commitments of the opposition parties on important issues for the nation and the common people. against opposition parties and their leaders,” Sinha said.
Since June 21, when she was nominated as the NDA presidential candidate, President-elect Murmu has not made a public statement.
The victory seemed certain and her numbers were boosted with support from a section of opposition parties such as Biju Janata Dal, Shiv Sena, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, YSR Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party and Telegu Desam Party. Some of these parties had previously supported Mr Sinha.