Vice President election: Candidate or no candidate? Where Congress and INDIA bloc stand
Sources have told TV9 Network that some Opposition leaders from the India Alliance are of the view that they should not name a candidate keeping in new the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. This is because the Modi government may indulge in cross voting to increase its numbers which is likely to have a bad effect Bihar voters.
With the BJP announcing CP Radhakrishnan as its vice presidential candidate, the India bloc leaders including the Congress have been deliberating on a ‘consensus’ candidate. However, different voices have been emerging from the India bloc ranging from fielding a candidate or a no-candidate at all, if Opposition sources are to be believed.
Sources have told TV9 Network that some Opposition leaders from the India Alliance are of the view that they should not name a candidate keeping in new the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. This is because the Modi government may indulge in cross voting to increase its numbers which is likely to have a bad effect Bihar voters.
Congress reaches out to alliance partners
Meanwhile, Congress President has reaching out to India Alliance leaders to discuss on vice presidential candidate from the Opposition.
Congress, sources say, also believe that it is not necessary for the candidate to have background from the Congress indicating that candidate could be from any alliance partners.
Congress ready for neutral candidate
As per the sources, Congress will agree on a neutral name suggested by allied parties, provided the person has a clean background.
Since NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan reportedly coming from the RSS background, Congress does not want to leave the field uncontested for the BJP.
Sources say that Congress wants to field a candidate who can put up an ideological fight against RSS and BJP. However, some Opposition parties, keeping in view NDA’s numerical strength, have predicting the outcome of vice presidential race and do not seem very enthusiastic about the contest.
Candidate issue to be taken up with Rahul Gandhi
Meanwhile, the Congress party is likely to discuss the name of candidate with Rahul Gandhi. It is also said that names of the candidates suggested by both Congress and India bloc would be put before the Leader of Opposition (LoP). Rahul Gandhi may then discuss the names with NCP leader Sharad Pawar, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soran and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.
Rahul Gandhi, who is currently on ‘Vote Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar, is expected to return to New Delhi on the evening of the August 19th. He will then head back to Bihar on the August 21st to continue his yatra. And during this period, the Congress and India Alliance are likely to finalise and name their consensus candidate, say sources.
DMK's dilemma on CP Radhakrishnan
The NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan comes from Tamil Nadu and the ruling DMK in the state has already stated its intention not to support him. However, CM Stalin is in a tight spot over supporting Tamil Nadu pride and his staunch Opposition to BJP and RSS.
The Vice-Presidential election are slated for September 9. The Vice President election was necessitated due to Jagdeep Dhankar’s sudden resignation on ‘health” grounds’ sending shock waves across political circles.