The ruling BJP-led National Democratic Front (NDA) and the opposition have announced their respective presidential candidates. On Tuesday afternoon, other opposition parties including Congress, TMC and NCP declared Yashwant Sinha as the common opposition candidate. At the same time, the name of Draupadi Murmu was put forward from the NDA side.
In the last presidential election, BJP gave the message of ‘Dalit President’ by making Ram Nath Kovind its candidate. If Murmu wins this time, then she will be the first woman tribal president of the country. Obviously, the entire credit for this will go to the NDA and especially the BJP. There have been allegations against the BJP that it finds people from deprived communities who are unable to speak against the government in the interest of their community.
Similar allegations are being made even after the announcement of Draupadi Murmu’s name. However, BJP leader Amit Shah has told Murmu’s work in one of his tweets. Shah has written, “Draupadi Murmu ji has made a special identity in public life by spreading awareness about education in the tribal society and serving the public for a long time as a public representative. I wish her all the best on becoming a candidate for this prestigious post and I am sure she will definitely win.”
What has Murmu done for the tribals?
Draupadi Murmu’s political career starts only in 1997, but a big opportunity was found in the year 2000. Then BJP gave him ticket from Rairangpur assembly seat. By winning this election, Murmu became the Minister of State with independent charge in Naveen Patnaik’s cabinet. The first two years saw the commerce and transport department, for the next two years the animal husbandry and fisheries department took over. That is, Draupadi Murmu does not have the experience of working for the tribals as a minister.
Draupadi Murmu was made the Governor of Jharkhand in the year 2015 after the Modi government came. Prior to Murmu, no tribal woman had held the position as the governor of Jharkhand. As governor, Murmu received equal respect and camaraderie from both the ruling party and the opposition. This is the reason that Murmu remained in this post till the end of the term. The governor has a tenure of five years but Murmu served for six years, one month and 18 days.
Governors have been accused of leaning towards the Centre, but Murmu was known to remain neutral during her tenure. There was an occasion when Draupadi Murmu, while advising the Raghubar Das government of BJP, returned his bill without any hesitation. He took such decisions even during the government of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.
CNT-SPT Act Amendment Bill was returned
In the year 2017, the Raghubar Das government of BJP had brought the CNT-SPT Act Amendment Bill. Under this bill, the government wanted to amend the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act (CNT Act) and the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act (SPT Act) made by the British government to protect the lands of the tribals. The Raghubar government got the bill passed in the House, despite heavy protests and a walkout by the opposition.
To convert a bill into law, it has to pass through the governor. The bill passed by the government in the House reached the then Governor Draupadi Murmu. Murmu returned the bill to the government without his signature. Also questioned the government that what would be the benefit to the tribals from this bill. The government did not respond and thus the bill never became a law. The tribal community was very happy with the governor’s decision and thanked Murmu. Talking to the media, Murmu had said that “around 200 objections were received against the bill, so the question of signing it does not arise.” It is said that the then Chief Minister Raghubar Das had also met Murmu regarding this matter but he did not change his decision.