Opposition meet to pick V-P candidate remains inconclusive

Former Director of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Mylswamy Annadurai and social activist Tushar Gandhi were among the names that were discussed at a meeting of INDIA bloc leaders on Monday at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence to decide the Opposition candidate for the vice-presidential polls.

The meeting, however, remained inconclusive and another meeting will take place on Tuesday before the final announcement.

“A meeting of leaders of all Opposition parties in Parliament will be held at 12:30 PM tomorrow Tuesday Aug 19th at 10, Rajaji Marg,” Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.

According to sources, the Congress president, who is also the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Rajya Sabha, is committed to fielding a candidate and not concede without a contest. He would be reaching out to top Opposition leaders on phone to arrive at the widest possible consensus.

On Sunday night, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had reached out to the leaders of some Opposition parties, including Mr. Kharge for unanimously electing the new Vice-President.

Sources said the Opposition wants to field a non-political face who has national standing and stature for the second-highest constitutional position in the country.

The vice-presidential election, necessitated by the sudden resignation of incumbent Jagdeep Dhankhar last month, is scheduled for September 9. The last date for filing nominations is August 21.

Though no name was finalised, several possible candidates were considered. According to sources, on DMK’s suggestion, Mr. Annadurai, an Indian scientist and former ISRO director, was discussed.

Mr. Annadurai, who had shot to limelight steering the ISRO’s Chandrayaan Mission, hails from the same Kongu region as Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, the NDA candidate for the Vice-President’s post. The former ISRO director’s scientific and apolitical background is an advantage.

If a consensus on Mr. Annadurai’s candidature emerges within the Opposition ranks and if he agrees to contest, it will help the DMK and its allies politically as they will not be seen as “anti-Tamil” in opposing NDA’s vice-presidential choice.

The Trinamool Congress, however, was of the opinion that it would be “reactive” to field another Tamilian in response to the NDA’s pick.

Another name that is said to have been discussed is Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, sources claimed.

There were also some reservations among RJD and SP leaders about contesting the vice-presidential polls since the numbers are loaded in favour of the NDA. They argued that since the Opposition does not have the requisite numbers, it should let this election go in view of the upcoming Bihar polls, which they argued needs more attention.

The SP also argued that the Opposition should focus its energy on its campaign against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. “So far, we have presented a united front, and any cross voting in VP’s election would send a wrong message,” a senior SP leader opined.

(With inputs from B. Kolappan in Chennai)