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Published: 15:47, June 22, 2022 | Updated: 15:56, June 22, 2022
India: BJP nominates tribal, female politician for president
By Reuters
Published:15:47, June 22, 2022 Updated:15:56, June 22, 2022 By Reuters

In this picture taken on March 10, 2022, supporters of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party wave their flag as they celebrate party's win in Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections outside the party office in Lucknow. (SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP)

BHUBANESWAR, India – A female Indian politician from a tribal community has been nominated as presidential candidate by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling nationalist party, officials said on Wednesday. 

Droupadi Murmu, 64, a veteran politician who has held senior posts in the eastern state of Odisha, is almost certain to be elected as Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party holds a majority in parliament and is likely to get the support of other parties in state assemblies, say political analysts. 

Lawmakers vote for India's largely ceremonial president. The presidential poll will be held in July.  

READ MORE: India's ruling party BJP wins 4 states

Born in a family of the Santhal tribe, Murmu started her career as a school teacher and actively participated on tribal rights issues. She later joined mainstream politics and served as a lawmaker and governor of the eastern state of Jharkhand. 

The Indian Constitution provides a largely ceremonial role for the president, with the prime minister and his cabinet holding executive powers 

Murmu "devoted her life to serving society and empowering the poor, downtrodden as well as the marginalized," Modi said in a tweet late on Tuesday night, after her name was announced as a candidate. 

"I am confident she will be a great president of our nation," Modi said. 

If elected, Murmu will become the first tribal president and the second-ever female president. 

Indian opposition parties said they would back Yashwant Sinha, a former BJP federal finance minister before he turned rebel, as their candidate for the presidential election. 

The Indian Constitution provides a largely ceremonial role for the president, with the prime minister and his cabinet holding executive powers. 

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But the president has a key role during political crises, such as when a general election is inconclusive, by deciding which party is in the best position to form a federal government.

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