Droupadi Murmu named NDA's presidential candidate

Former Jharkhand governor Draupadi Murmu will be the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance's presidemtial candidate, party national president J.P. Nadda announced today.

On a day when former Union minister Yashwant Sinha emerged as the consensus presidential candidate of 13 opposition parties, the NDA rallied in support of the 64-year-old tribal leader from Odisha. She would become the first person from the community to hold the post if she wins the presidential poll.

President Ram Nath Kovind will complete his tenure on July 24. While Kovind was a surprise pick, it suited the BJP's efforts to reach out to Dalits. He was only the second Dalit to occupy the post after K.R. Narayanan.