India elected Droupadi Murmu to be its first president from one of the country’s tribes.
Murmu, 64, previously served as governor of Jharkhand state and won as part of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, according to the Associated Press. She is a member of the Santal tribe, one of India’s largest, and is set to be sworn in on Monday.
INDIA IS ON A PATH TOWARDS POPULATION CONTRACTION
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Murmu personally to congratulate her on the victory.
“Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji’s life, her early struggles, her rich service and her exemplary success motivates each and every Indian. She has emerged as a ray of hope for our citizens, especially the poor, marginalised and the downtrodden,” he wrote on Twitter.
Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji’s life, her early struggles, her rich service and her exemplary success motivates each and every Indian. She has emerged as a ray of hope for our citizens, especially the poor, marginalised and the downtrodden.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 21, 2022
The role of the president in India’s political system is largely ceremonial, with true power residing with the prime minister. The position is chosen by lawmakers rather than the populace directly.
Murmu won in a landslide, largely by getting the votes of tribal lawmakers from opposition parties, according to the Washington Post. Her victory comes as part of a growing strategy from Modi’s BJP, typically the party of upper-caste Hindus, to broaden its appeal to lower-caste voters.
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Though India’s tribes make up around 9% of the population, they have traditionally been seen as lower on the caste hierarchy that permeates the country. In part due to their perceived lower status, tribal Indians lag behind upper-caste Indians in many metrics, including literacy rates, poverty, and representation. Murmu’s supporters hope her victory will help bring attention to India’s impoverished tribes.
