Highlights From Droupadi Murmu’s Historic Win In Presidential Polls

The election of Droupadi Murmu as the President of the Republic has been one of the most awe-inspiring moments in India since independence. It has been made possible by the democratic principles that the country has followed in a steadfast manner.

It is commendable that PM Narendra Modi and his party understood the significance of India getting its first tribal President, that too, someone as meritorious as Murmu. Her compelling life journey has received admiration from all quarters.

Her victory in the Presidential elections is reflective of the support she has garnered across party lines. Here are some highlights of Murmu’s path to a historic win:

Murmu defeated opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha with a staggering 64 per cent of total valid votes. She received 6,76,803 votes against Sinha's 3,80,177 votes.

Murmu: A Clear Favourite

Prior to the election date, parties including BJD, YSRCP, AIADMK, TDP, BSP, JDS and SAD pledged their support in Murmu’s favour. As the poll date neared, there was increased pressure for parties to support her nomination. Parties such as JMM, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party too joined the chorus in Murmu’s support, despite their reservations with the BJP.

Though TMC ultimately voted for Sinha in the elections, the party chief Mamata Banerjee seemed taken aback when Murmu’s name was suggested. She feared disappointing the tribal communities and did not allow Sinha to campaign in West Bengal.

One Vote from Kerala Worth a Hundred

Even though NDA does not have a single seat in Kerala Legislative Assembly, Murmu received one vote in her favour. The BJP state chief, K. Surendran tweeted, “Value of the one vote which NDA's Presidential candidate Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji got from Kerala is greater than the value of 139 votes polled against her. I sincerely thank the lone MLA who voted for positive politics. That vote is against the negative politics of the LDF & UDF.”

He said that there were several legislators and parliamentarians from Kerala who wished to vote for Murmu but could not as per party diktat. However, their conscience was with her.

Hitting Century in the Three States

Murmu received 100 per cent of the MLA votes from Andhra Pradesh, Nagaland, and Sikkim. She received votes from all states and UTs, while Sinha scored nil in three states. There were instances of cross-voting in NDA’s presidential candidate across states. In Assam, Murmu got 104 votes, which was 25 more than the NDA’s tally in the state. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted, “Smt Droupadi Murmu polled 104 votes compared to NDA’s original strength of 79 in the 126 member Assam Assembly. 2 absent.”

In Jharkhand, she secured 10 more votes, apart from the expected ones. In Gujarat, 10 more legislators, from non-NDA parties, cast their vote for Murmu.

In Goa, CM Sawant said the BJP and its allies had the support of 25 MLAs, but Murmu polled 28 votes from Goa, indicating cross-voting by three MLAs.

Sinha, who was a joint opposition candidate, failed to keep the flock together, receiving less than the expected votes.

Many Firsts

Droupadi Murmu will be the first tribal President. She will also be the first President to be born after independence and the youngest to occupy the top post. She was also the first woman Governor of Jharkhand. She started her journey as a teacher and rose from the ranks to become the 15^th President of India.