Gandhinagar: National Democratic Alliance (NDA)’s candidate for the election for the post of the President of India, Droupadi Murmu was on a brief visit to Gujarat today. She addressed the Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat and left for Delhi in a special plane.

Droupadi Murmu arrived at SVPI airport in Ahmedabad in a special plane. She was welcomed at the airport by the Chief Minister, State party chief, other ministers, city Mayor among others. She then drove to nearby hotel Narayani Heights in Gandhinagar and addressed the party MLAs. Murmu in her address asked all MLAs to cast the vote and cast it correctly. Murmu had photo session with party’s tribal MLAs and then all MLAs.

BJP has 111 MLAs in Gujarat. The party had yesterday evening organized a gathering of MLAs and trained them for voting in the Presidential election which is going to take place on July 18. According to party leaders, all 111 BJP MLAs cast their votes correctly during mock poll sessions. Another such session was held today at Narayani Heights hotel. The voters are required to write a Roman digit ‘1’ at the prescribed place next to the name of their choice of candidate.

Murmu was accompanied by union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Bharati Pawar. State government spokesperson and minister Rajendra Trivedi told media persons that Droupadi Murmu decided to meet the MLAs of Gujarat in spite of her busy schedule, just a day ahead of the Presidential election. Trivedi said Murmu appealed for 100 per cent voting by all MLAs and also asked to see that no vote was wasted. Trivedi expressed the possibility that even the MLAs from other parties may cast their votes in favor of Murmu. Trivedi said, State BJP chief CR Patil left for Delhi along with Murmu in a special plane as he had to cast his vote in Delhi. Trivedi pointed out that Murmu was earlier going to visit the Statue of Unity and meet the Gujarat BJP MLAs there, however due to the situation arising after very heavy rains, the earlier programme was postponed.

Trivedi said, the BJP MLAs were asked to stay in Gandhinagar till the voting for Presidential election completes. The MLAs attended a mock poll session yesterday and also attended the address of Droupadi Murmu today. They shall leave Gandhinagar after voting for the Presidential election tomorrow.

In reply to media’s questions, former minister and senior-most BJP MLA in Gujarat, Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said that while other parties kept talking about upliftment of backward class, it is BJP that has chosen a tribal woman from humble background to become the President of India. DeshGujarat