Scripting history, National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) Droupadi Murmu came out on top in the race for the post of President of India on Thursday, 21 July, becoming the first person from a tribal community, and the second woman ever, to be elected.
While President-elect Murmu secured 2,824 first preference votes, valued at 6,76,803, Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha secured 1,877 first preference votes, valued at 3,80,177.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief JP Nadda met Murmu in Delhi to congratulate her soon after the third round of counting sealed her victory, and Sinha conceded defeat.
Celebrations that began earlier on Thursday continued after the results were declared. Scores of citizens and political leaders across party lines extended their wishes to Murmu.
President-elect Droupadi Murmu with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
(Photo: PTI)
Hailing from the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, Murmu belongs to the Santhal tribe. With her nomination, the BJP had sent out a significant political message after elevating a Dalit, Ram Nath Kovind, to the top post five years back.
'Historic Moment': PM Modi Hails Murmu's Journey
As PM modi met Murmu at her residence in Delhi, he took to Twitter to hail her victory, calling her journey an inspiration to billions across the country.
"India scripts history. At a time when 1.3 billion Indians are marking Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, a daughter of India hailing from a tribal community born in a remote part of eastern India has been elected our President! Congratulations to Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji on this feat," he said.
"Smt Droupadi Murmu Ji's life, her early struggles, her rich service and her exemplary success motivates each and every Indian. She has emerged as a ray of hope for our citizens, especially the poor, marginalised and the downtrodden," he added.
Sitting President Ram Nath Kovind, whose tenure is scheduled to end on 24 July, also congratulated Murmu, saying, "Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Smt. Droupadi Murmu on being elected as the 15th President of India."
Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah called Murmu's victory a "milestone" in the direction of empowerment of the tribal community.
"Coming from a very common tribal family, NDA candidate Smt. Droupadi Murmu ji's election as the President of India is a moment of great pride for the whole country, I congratulate her. This victory is a milestone in the direction of realising the resolve of Antyodaya and empowerment of tribal society," Shah tweeted in Hindi.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also sent congratulatory messages to president-elect, among others.
'Hope Murmu Functions Without Fear Or Favour': Yashwant Sinha
Meanwhile, Yashwant Sinha, the Opposition's joint candidate who lost the election, congratulated Murmu on her victory and said in a statement: "I hope - indeed, every Indian hopes - that as the 15th President of India she functions as the Custodian of the Constitution without fear or favour."
Taking to Twitter, Sinha further added, "I join my fellow citizens in congratulating Droupadi Murmu on her victory in the Presidential election 2022."
Sinha also thanked the leaders of the Opposition parties who had selected him as their joint candidate in the election.
"I sincerely thank the leaders of the opposition political parties for choosing me as their consensus candidate in this election. I also thank all members of the Electoral College who voted for me. I accepted the offer of Opposition parties solely guided by the philosophy of Karma Yoga preached by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita - 'Do your duty without expectation of the fruits thereof,'" Sinha said.
Celebrations Across Country
Ahead of the declaration of results, hoardings had already come up in the sleepy town of Rairangpur, congratulating "Odisha's daughter" on her victory.
Folk artistes and tribal dancers rehearsed their performances, ready to hit the streets awaiting the final result.
"We are preparing 20,000 laddus and have put up 100 banners congratulating Murmu, who has her house in our town," news agency PTI quoted local BJP leader Tapan Mahanta as saying.
After the results were declared, celebrations continued across the country over Murmu's historic win.
"I am overjoyed that my sister, a tribal woman, has been elected as the President. She has struggled a lot since her childhood. This is an inspiration for everybody," Murmu's brother Tarinisen Tudu told ANI.
Tribal artists perform in anticipation of the results of Presidential Elections 2022 favouring Draupadi Murmu, near her residence in Rairangpur, Thursday, July 21, 2022.
(Photo: PTI)
Rairangpur to Raisina: Droupadi Murmu's Journey
From being a teacher to entering politics and serving as the first woman governor of a state, the 64-year-old's journey to now occupying the top constitutional post is interesting to glance at.
Murmu graduated from Rama Devi Women's College in Bhubaneswar with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
She served as a junior assistant in the Odisha irrigation and power department, and later as an honorary assistant professor at Shri Aurobindo Integral Education and Research, Rairangpur.
Considered soft-spoken and affable, the leader has held various positions in the party, rising through the ranks, and was a minister in the state when the BJP was in alliance with the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
Murmu's political career began in 1997, when she was elected councillor for the Rairangpur district of Odisha. Three years later, she got elected as a legislator from Rairangpur constituency.
She also wears the crown of being the first woman from Odisha to be named governor of a state in India.
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