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New Delhi: A veteran leader from the BJP will be the next Vice President, sources in the party said, putting to rest speculation that key NDA allies, including JDU chief Nitish Kumar, are among the frontrunners for the second highest Constitutional post vacated by the shocking exit of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
A top BJP leader said that someone who is closely associated with the party's ideology will be the Vice President. Earlier on Tuesday, JDU leader and Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur and BJP chief JP Nadda had met, setting off speculation that he might be the next VP. However, BJP sources, shrugged off the speculation, calling the meeting a routine exercise.
Dhankar resigned as Vice President of India on Monday, a political move that few saw coming. The 74-year-old stepped down from the constitutional post, saying he will "prioritise his health". Meanwhile, the Election Commission has begun preparing for the Vice Presidential election and said that it will announce the poll schedule after the formalities.
"Major pre-announcement activities which have already been started include: (i) Preparation of Electoral College which consists of elected as well as nominated members of Rajya Sabha as well as Lok Sabha; (ii) Finalisation of Returning Officer/ Assistant Returning Officer(s); and (iii) Preparation and dissemination of Background Material on all the previous Vice-Presidential Elections," the poll body has said. The Opposition has not proposed a name for the top post.
While Dhankar cited his deteriorating health as the reason for the move, the sudden resignation sparked a speculation about a possible fallout with the Modi government. According to sources, Dhankar allegedly accepted an Opposition's motion in Rajya Sabha to impeach Justice Yashwant Verma , going against the government's announcement that the impeachment proceedings against Verma would be initiated through the Lok Sabha. "To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution," he wrote in his resignation letter addressed to president Droupadi Murmu.
