ELECTION OF PRESIDENT 2022

Droupadi Murmu is an Indian politician serving as India’s 15th and current President since July 25, 2022. Former Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu was a BJP-led NDA candidate for the Presidential polls. She had an edge over the opposition’s candidate, former Minister of Finance Yashwant Sinha. Murmu Ji took the oath of office in the Central Hall of Parliament by the chief judge NV Ramana.

Who is Draupadi Murmu?

Draupadi Murmu was born on June 20, 1958, in Baidaposi village of the Mayurbhanj district. She belongs to the Santhal community. She married Shyam Charan Murmu, a banker who died in 2014. She worked as an educator before entering politics. She worked as a professor at the Shri Aurobindo Integral Education and Research Institute, Rairangpur. She was a junior assistant in the Irrigation and Power Department.

She joined the BJP in 1997 and was elected as a councilor of the Rairangpur Nagar Panchayat. She served as an MLA within the Odisha Legislative Assembly twice. She was the first woman Governor of Jharkhand (2015-21). She was also the primary Odia woman and tribal leader to be named governor of an Indian state. She was conferred Nilkantha Award for best MLA by the Odisha legislature in 2007. She has handled ministries like transport, Commerce, fisheries, and farming in the Odisha Government.

Her Record

Murmu became India’s first tribal President. She became the first president to be born after Independence. She is additionally the second woman president in the country.

How is President Elected

The President is elected by a body that is responsible for the President’s election and comprises of:

1. Elected member of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha

2. Elected member of Legislative Assemblies of the states

3. Elected member of Legislative Assemblies of the Union Territories of Delhi, J&K, and Puducherry

As of 2022, the body comprises 776 MPs and 4,033 MLAs.

The election of the President of India is based on the principle of Proportional Representation by means of a single transferable vote.

Related Constitutional Provisions

Article 54: Election of President

Article 55: Manner of election of President. Article 56: Term of office of President Article 57: Eligibility for re-election.

Article 58: Qualifications for election as President.