India : The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday announced Droupadi Murmu as the NDA’s presidential candidate.

The announcement was made by Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda after the BJP Parliamentary Board meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“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,” Nadda said.

The tribal leader served as the Jharkhand governor between 2015 and 2021. If elected, she will be the first tribal woman to occupy the top constitutional post. She will be contesting the presidential polls against UPA presidential nominee Yashwant Sinha, whose candidature was announced earlier in the day.

The Presidential elections will be held on July 18 and the counting of votes, if needed, will be conducted on July 21. The last date of nomination has been set for June 29. The new president has to be sworn in by July 25.

“A total of 4,809 electors to vote in the Presidential elections 2022. No political party can issue a whip to its members,” chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar had said.