NDA candidate Draupadi Murmu gets rousing ovation in Northeast

GUWAHATI/SHILLONG: NDA candidate Draupadi Murmu, who is on a visit to the Northeastern States as part of her campaign for the July 18 Presidential poll, has received a rousing welcome in all the States.

Murmu accompanied by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and senior BJP leaders, visited Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland on Wednesday.

Murmu - the first woman tribal leader to contest for the country's highest Constitutional post, visited Tripura and Manipur on Tuesday and then went to Assam late on Tuesday night. From Guwahati, the 64-year-old Murmu went to Shillong and then Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday.

In all the States, Chief Ministers and other seniors Ministers along with leaders received her at the airports, while artistes from different communities welcomed her with colourful traditional performances.

According to sources, Murmu held a series of meetings with the Ministers, MLAs and MPs of BJP and its allies in the Northeastern States and sought support for her candidature.

Union Minister of State Pratima Bhoumik also accompanied Murmu, who was also a Minister in Odisha and Governor of Jharkhand.

Supporting the candidature of Murmu, Meghalaya Chief Minister and NPP president Conrad K Sangma tweeted: Meghalaya extends its support to NDA's Presidential candidate, Smti Draupadi Murmu ji. As a tribal community, it will be our honour to offer our support to India's 1st Indigenous Tribal Woman as our country's President."

"As President, Smti Draupadi ji will represent a New India. She represents hope for every tribal, every girl, every woman, and will carry with her the aspirations of small communities of India. We are proud of her & wish her all the best for the upcoming Presidential election," Sangma said in another tweet.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh also sounded optimistic about Murmu's victory.

"Held a meeting with all the MLAs of BJP-led Government and Hon'ble MPs of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha today and deliberated on the preparation for the upcoming Presidential election. We are confident that, Smt Draupadi Murmu ji will become the next President of India," Singh tweeted.

Before the meeting with all MLAs and MPs began, Murmu led a condolence prayer of the victims of the recent landslides in the Noney district of Manipur by observing one-minute's silence, the Chief Minister said. (IANS)

OUR CORRESPONDENT ADDS FROM ITANAGAR: NDA Presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu on Wednesday visited Arunachal Pradesh and held a meeting with the MPs and MLAs of the ruling BJP and its allies - the NPP and the JD (U) - sources in the saffron party said.

Accompanied by Union Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal and Pratima Bhoumik, Assam MP Rajdeep Roy and BJP spokesman Sambit Patra, Murmu arrived here from Lilabari in Assam's North Lakhimpur district to seek support for her candidature from the lawmakers.

She was received by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, his deputy Chowna Mein, BJP State unit president Biyuram Wahge and other party functionaries at the Raj Bhavan helipad.

The NDA presidential nominee held a closed-door meeting with Lok Sabha MP Tapir Gao, Rajya Sabha member Nabam Rebia, the legislators of the BJP, NPP, and the JD (U), besides three Independents.

The sources in the BJP said that Murmu, during the meeting, showered praises on the development work and the vibrant culture of the State, terming Arunachal Pradesh as a pious State as it houses several religious sites such as the Parshuram Kund and Bhismaknagar, where Lord Krishna is said to have married Rukmini.

She also briefly met Governor Brig (Retd) Dr BD Mishra at the Raj Bhavan, they said.

The ruling BJP in the state has 48 MLAs in the 60-member Assembly, while NPP has four legislators, and the JD (U) one. Three Independents are also members of the House.

The Opposition Congress has four members in the Assembly.

The saffron party has two Lok Sabha MPs in the State Gao and Kiren Rijiju - and one member in the Upper House of Parliament, Rebia.

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