In Odisha, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and all MLAs, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs, in Bhubaneswar on Friday.
While Patnaik welcomed Murmu in the assembly. Murmu addressed him as his brother, recalling how he had tied a rakhi to him in 2000.
“He is Jagannath and I am his Subhadra. My brother has given the gift of support even before I asked. He also spoke to me on the telephone during his stay abroad. I am a village girl and I was a minister. I had worked a lot,” she said.
Murmu and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat had lunch at Naveen Niwas, where BJD MP Pinaki Mishra was with them. The menu featured Odia dishes like brinjal bhaja, aloo bharta and badi chura.
BJD MP Chandrashekhar Sahu said: “Apart from party lines, the CM urged everyone to unanimously support Murmu. It is a matter of pride for Odisha.”
grand welcome
Murmu reached Bhubaneswar on Friday. They were accorded a grand welcome with traditional dance and song performances. Along with the workers, the leaders were also seen dancing.
Read also | ‘Draupadi Murmu ma’am ate at stalls, traveled without security’: Assam BJP worker recounts 2006 meeting
Murmu met BJP MPs and MLAs including State President Sameer Das, MP Sangeeta Singhdev, Suresh Puri, Pratap Sarangi, Basant Panda at the guest house.
BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi said: “We are working together to get Murmu elected as the President.”
Inputs from Manoj Jena and Sumant Sundray
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