SHILLONG, July 5: National Democratic Alliance presidential nominee Draupadi Murmu will visit the state on Wednesday to drum up support for her candidature.
Confirming the arrival of the NDA’s presidential nominee, BJP’s election in-charge for Meghalaya AL Hek on Tuesday said Murmu would hold interactions with the representatives of different political parties at Umiam Lake resort on Wednesday afternoon.
Expressing confidence that she will win the polls, Hek added that the presidential candidate will seek the support of all political parties of the state for her candidature.
“She is the first tribal woman candidate for the post of President and I request all political parties to rise above party lines to support her candidature as it will be a proud moment and an honour for tribals to have a tribal as president of the country,” Hek said.
It may be mentioned that the BJP has invited all political parties in the state including the Congress and the All India Trinamool Congress to attend the meeting on Wednesday.
Chief Minister and Chairman of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance, Conrad K Sangma is scheduled to convene a meeting of the allies soon to discuss the presidential election.
The Hill State People’s Democratic Party has decided to support Murmu for the presidential election, party president KP Pangniang said on Tuesday.
Pangniang said she is a tribal woman and being in the MDA government the party felt that everyone should be on the same page as far the July 18 election was concerned.
AITC state president Charles Pyngrope on Tuesday made it clear that though the party has great respect for the political legacy of Draupadi Murmu, yet the party will not support her candidature as BJP is trying to gain political mileage by nominating her.
He said that despite her long political career, Murmu was never vocal about the instances of violence against the tribal community.
“Can we expect her to be vocal when tribal lands are sold or can we expect her to be vocal when subsidies for tribal students are stopped,” Pyngrope questioned.
