Our Correspondent / NEW DELHI
Opposition parties have choosen Mahatma’s grandson and former West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi as there candidate for the post of vice president.
Mr Gandhi’s name was selected during the meeting of 18 opposition parties which met to decide on their candidate for the vice presidential polls.
The meeting, convened by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, was held in Parliament House. Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, and leaders of BSP, RLD, CPI(M), CPI, National Conference, NCP, Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress were among those who attended the meeting. Mr Gandhi is the grandson Mahatma Gandhi and a former bureaucrat.
The process of filing of nominations for the vice presidential poll started on 4th of this month and will end on the 18th. Polling for the vice president’s post will take place on the 5th of next month if required.
The votes will be counted on the same day. The term of present incumbent Mohammad Hamid Ansari, who has held the post for two successive spells, comes to an end on 10th of next month. The electoral college which votes for the vice president, consists of elected and nominated members of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.
Gandhi’s name was the only name discussed when 18 Opposition parties met today to decide on their candidate for the vice presidential poll, a leader privy to the meeting said.
Sharad Yadav represented the JD(U), other leaders at the meeting included Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, TMC’s Derek O’ Brien, CPI(M)’s Sitaram Yechury, NC’s Omar Abdullah, SP’s Naresh Agarwal and BSP’s Satish Chandra Mishra.
Polling for the vice president’s post will take place on August 5 if required. The votes will be counted the same evening.