Former West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi is Opposition’s pick for the post of Vice President of India. 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.
