Editor's Pick: Raisina Calling: Droupadi Murmu elected India's 15th President

Droupadi Murmu, the NDA’s candidate and former Governor of Jharkhand, was elected the 15th President of India on Thursday. Read about her here. She won the presidential polls by an overwhelming margin, defeating Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha with 64.03% of the votes polled. She is the first tribal woman to be elected President and the youngest at the age of 64. Ms. Murmu, from the forest-dependent Santhal tribe, was declared elected after four rounds of counting although she had crossed the halfway mark after three rounds. Heavy cross-voting in the Opposition in her favour fuelled her victory. To understand how the President is elected, read this explainer. She received overwhelming support from non-NDA MLAs and MPs from Gujarat, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Ms. Murmu’s nomination, and now her victory, is seen as a triumph of political aspirations and a breakthrough moment for the Santhal community, writes Satyasundar Barik in this ground report from Pahadpur village in Mayurbhanj, Odisha, which is celebrating the rise of its “daughter-in-law” There is great hope that Ms. Murmu’s election can change the life of the tribal people for the better. Ms. Murmu, who worked in the State Irrigation and Power Department and then as a teacher before entering politics, is known to have asked for clarifications in the past on how certain Bills would benefit the tribal people. “Her journey to this position has been protracted and symbolic of the struggle of the tribal people to find space in the political imagery of the nation,” writes Nistula Hebbar in this piece on why Ms. Murmu will not be a “mere rubber stamp”. The victory, rich in symbolism and a moment of political triumph for the ruling NDA, is “a milestone in the journey of tribal empowerment, though she is by no means limited to her tribal identity. It is a moment of pride for India,” says today’s editorial. Ms. Murmu’s nomination and victory once again showcases the BJP’s ability to bring more and more communities under the Hindutva fold. The party is known to pick low-profile candidates from its widening social base for top positions. It equally demonstrated the division in the Opposition ranks over her nomination. The NDA’s calculated move left parties wondering how to thwart her bid while also keeping their tribal support intact, resulting in a split in the Opposition that only grew. Meanwhile, following Ms. Murmu’s victory, the party has already begun plans for a tribal outreach, keeping upcoming Assembly elections in mind. But symbolism must be backed with substance, says the editorial, and the real concerns of the tribal people must be addressed. Ms. Murmu’s victory has led to elation in tribal areas and given a push to the BJP’s outreach efforts. It is a remarkable and inspiring story of grit and this is why this is the top pick of the day. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more. Click here The Hindu’s Editorials Madam President: On Droupadi Murmu’s election as India’s 15th President Welcome relief: On bail to Mohammed Zubair The Hindu’s Daily Quiz India has signed an agreement with the Namibian government to bring back which animal to the country? Lion Cheetah Tiger Elephant To find out the answer and play the full quiz, click here [logo] Editor's Pick 22 JULY 2022 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( Raisina Calling: Droupadi Murmu elected India’s 15th President Droupadi Murmu, the NDA’s candidate and former Governor of Jharkhand, was elected the 15th President of India on Thursday. Read about her [here](. She won the presidential polls by an overwhelming margin, defeating Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha with 64.03% of the votes polled. She is the first tribal woman to be elected President and the youngest at the age of 64. Ms. Murmu, from the forest-dependent Santhal tribe, was declared elected after four rounds of counting although she had crossed the halfway mark after three rounds. Heavy cross-voting in the Opposition in her favour fuelled her victory. To understand how the President is elected, read this [explainer](. She received overwhelming support from non-NDA MLAs and MPs from Gujarat, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Ms. Murmu’s nomination, and now her victory, is seen as a triumph of political aspirations and a breakthrough moment for the Santhal community, writes Satyasundar Barik in this ground report from Pahadpur village in Mayurbhanj, Odisha, which is celebrating the rise of its “daughter-in-law” [There is great hope]( that Ms. Murmu’s election can change the life of the tribal people for the better. Ms. Murmu, who worked in the State Irrigation and Power Department and then as a teacher before entering politics, is known to have asked for clarifications in the past on how certain Bills would benefit the tribal people. “Her journey to this position has been protracted and symbolic of the struggle of the tribal people to find space in the political imagery of the nation,” [writes Nistula Hebbar]( in this piece on why Ms. Murmu will not be a “mere rubber stamp”. The victory, rich in symbolism and a moment of political triumph for the ruling NDA, is “a milestone in the journey of tribal empowerment, though she is by no means limited to her tribal identity. It is a moment of pride for India,” says [today’s editorial]( Ms. Murmu’s nomination and victory once again showcases the BJP’s ability to bring more and more communities under the Hindutva fold. The party is known to pick low-profile candidates from its widening social base for top positions. It equally demonstrated the division in the Opposition ranks over her nomination. The NDA’s calculated move left parties wondering how to thwart her bid while also keeping their tribal support intact, resulting in a split in the Opposition that only grew. Meanwhile, following Ms. Murmu’s victory, the party has already begun plans for a tribal outreach, keeping upcoming Assembly elections in mind. But symbolism must be backed with substance, says the editorial, and the real concerns of the tribal people must be addressed. Ms. Murmu’s victory has led to elation in tribal areas and given a push to the BJP’s outreach efforts. It is a remarkable and inspiring story of grit and this is why this is the top pick of the day.   Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more.  [Click here]( The Hindu’s Editorials [Arrow][Madam President: On Droupadi Murmu’s election as India’s 15th President]( [Arrow][Welcome relief: On bail to Mohammed Zubair]( The Hindu’s Daily Quiz India has signed an agreement with the Namibian government to bring back which animal to the country? - Lion - Cheetah - Tiger - Elephant To find out the answer and play the full quiz, [click here]( Today’s Best Reads [[TMC to abstain from voting in vice-president polls] TMC to abstain from voting in vice-president polls]( [[Indigenous tag splits ‘Assamese Muslims’ wide open] Indigenous tag splits ‘Assamese Muslims’ wide open]( [[Two Bengaluru boys with cancer get to become Deputy Commissioner of Police for a day] Two Bengaluru boys with cancer get to become Deputy Commissioner of Police for a day]( [[Thambi, the Chess Olympiad mascot, is here to paint Tamil Nadu ‘black and white’] Thambi, the Chess Olympiad mascot, is here to paint Tamil Nadu ‘black and white’]( Copyright @ 2022, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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