The BJP-led NDA nominee Droupadi Murmu on Friday filed her nomination papers for the July 18 presidential elections as the ruling dispensation, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, used the occasion to display its strength.

The BJP organised a big show of strength for the nomination paper filing before Rajya Sabha secretary-general P.C. Mody, who is the returning officer for the presidential elections. Modi handed the set of papers on Murmu’s behalf in the presence of a large contingent of top central ministers, chief ministers of BJP-ruled states, alliance leaders and backers outside the NDA like the BJD and YSR Congress.

The BJP sought to send out the message that there was no challenge to its candidate Murmu, former Jharkhand governor and the first tribal woman to be nominated for the country’s top constitutional post.

The presence of BJD and YSRCP leaders to back Murmu’s candidature during the filing of nomination papers strengthened the NDA nominee’s prospects in comparison to the Opposition’s candidate, former Union minister Yashwant Sinha.

Murmu’s candidature has put Opposition Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in a tough spot given the symbolism of a tribal woman. The JMM had backed Yashwant’s candidature but it would find it hard not to back Murmu given that the party draws strength from tribals.

Before filing her nomination papers, Murmu called up key Opposition leaders like Congress president Sonia Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee to seek their support.

According to PTI, all the three leaders conveyed their best wishes to Murmu.

If elected, Murmu will be the first tribal President of India.