*www.jharkhandstatenews.com file picture shows Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu holding bow and arrow inside an educational institution in the state.

By Manoj Prasad: If information reaching Ranchi from the national capital is of any indication,the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi may opt for Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu as the candidate for the next President of India.

Murmu aged 59 is an Adivasi( tribal) from Odisha.With the BJP trying to win the hearts of citizens,especially tribals,this decision can be in favour of the nation and the ruling party as well.Reasons are as follows.

One,Murmu has a bright resume showing she had an impressive political and social career spanning almost two decades. India did not have any tribal who was elected as the President. Her career began in 1997 when she was appointed as a councillor. She was then elected to the Odisha Assembly.Soon,she was rated as the’ best MLA’ of the year.

Two,records show that Murmu has whole heartedly addressed social causes and played a pivotal role in community uplift in Odisha.

Three,since the BJP lacks strength of its own to get her elected as the President,this ruling party needs others including its allies support it and have a vote value of 5.32 lakh in the electoral college.

This is short by 17,500 of the half way mark. If the BJP gets the support of the BJD,JMM and the AIADMK, then the vote value would go up to 6,28,195. The vote value of 5,49,442 is enough to elect the President in the electoral college.

The electoral college comprises 4,896 legislators. This includes the 776 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members and 4,120 MLAs.The nominated members and the MLCs are not eligible to vote. The vote value of each LS and RS member is 708. The vote value of the MLA depends on the population of the state. The vote value of an MLA is equivalent to the population of the state divided by the number of elected legislators divided, yet again, by 1,000.

In UP the vote value of an MLA is the highest. It is at 209. The lowest vote value is from Sikkim at 7.
Right now, the BJP and its allies have a vote value of 5,31,954. The BJP would need 17,488 and it would depend on the BJD,JMM and AIADMK for the same. The vote value of 134 AIADMK MLAs is 23,584. The vote value of 50 AIADMK MPs is 35,400. The BJD MLAs have a vote value of 17,433 while its 28 MLAs have a vote value of 19,824.

Finally,since Murmu hails from Odhisa and belongs to tribal community,none of the Opposition party including the Congress can easily oppose this distinguished tribal woman.Also,the BJD,JMM and AIADMK are likely to support her.Even the West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee led Trinamool Congress,who is learnt to be ‘close’ to her,may support her.Which means the BJP game plan to get her elected as President may succeed.

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