Bhubaneswar/Rome: Odisha Chief Minister and BJD President Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday appealed to all MLAs in the state to support Draupadi Murmu, who has been named as the NDA candidate in the presidential election.
Patnaik, who is in Rome now, made this appeal on Twitter.
Appeal all the members of Odisha Legislative Assembly, cutting across party lines, to extend unanimous support to elect the daughter of #Odisha – Smt #DraupadiMurmu to the country’s highest office.
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) June 22, 2022
On Tuesday, Patnaik had revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier discussed Murmu’s candidature with him. The CM also said he is sure that Murmu will set a shining example for women empowerment in the country.
In the 147-seat Odisha Assembly, the BJD has 114 members (including one expelled member), BJP 22, Congress 9, CPI-M 1 and there is 1 Independent too.
Patnaik’s BJP had supported NDA candidates in the previous two presidential elections (2012, 2017) also.
In 2017, Patnaik had supported NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind after receiving a call from the Prime Minister. At that time, he had stated that the office of the President is above political consideration and the BJD wanted to keep it above politics.
Similarly, Patnaik was the first to propose the name of former Lok Sabha Speaker P. A. Sangma for the presidential election held in 2012 against UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee.
Following the NDA’s announcement of her candidature, a wave of congratulations has followed from leaders across party lines.
Odisha state wings of BJP, Biju Janata Dal have reacted to the decision taken by the BJP Parliamentary Board.
Welcoming the decision, BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi said:
It is a proud moment for Odisha- Madam Draupadi Murmu, a prominent tribal leader and social reformer, has been picked up as the Presidential Candidate of NDA. Grateful to Hon’ble PM @narendramodi and the BJP Parliamentary Board for deciding on her candidature. Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/5SLzYa0OOQ
— Aparajita Sarangi, Member of Parliament (@AprajitaSarangi) June 21, 2022
Chief whip of BJD Prashant Muduli said, “The President of India is the head of state of the Republic of India. If elected, Murmu will be the first Odia to be President of India. Every Odia is proud of it. Being an Odia, I feel proud of it. Our leader Naveen Patnaik has always laid stress on women, development of tribal. These aspects are very much associated with Murmu. WE are really happy for it.”
Congress MLA Mohammed Moquim said, “Being a disciplined party worker of Congress, we would abide by the party decision. Whatever will be the decision of the party head, we will obey it.”
