At the instance of Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik, two of his Cabinet colleagues, Jagannath Saraka and Tukuni Sahu, signed in the nomination papers on behalf of the BJD in favour of NDA candidate Draupadi Murmu in New Delhi on Thursday.
State ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Class Welfare Minister Saraka and Commerce and Transport Minister Sahu were also asked to be present at Murmu’s nomination filing event along with other BJD leaders.
In a tweet, Patnaik said BJP president JP Nadda had spoken to him in this regard.
Murmu, who arrived in New Delhi on Thursday, straight went to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence and conveyed her thanks to him. She also met Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda.