NEW DELHI: BJP-led NDA on Tuesday named Draupadi Murmu as their presidential candidate for the upcoming elections.
Draupadi Murmu was the former governor of Jharkhand.
“For the first time, preference has been given to a woman tribal candidate. We announce Draupadi Murmu as NDA’s candidate for the upcoming Presidential elections,” BJP chief JP Nadda said.

“BJP parliamentary board discussed 20 names for presidential nominee, it was decided to pick someone from east India, a tribal and woman,” he added.
Nadda made the announcement after BJP’s parliamentary board meeting at party headquarters in Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defence minister Rajnath Singh, Union home minister Amit Shah, Union minister Nitin Gadkari were present at the meeting.
Earlier today, the opposition parties announced that they have unanimously decided to field former Union minister Yashwant Sinha as their common candidate for Presidential elections.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, while reading out the joint opposition statement, said that the Modi government made no serious effort to have consensus on Presidential candidate.
June 29 is the last date for candidates to file papers. Voting is scheduled for July 18 and counting on July 21.