PM Modi, JP Nadda to Finalise NDA’s Vice-Presidential Candidate Today
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president JP Nadda will select the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate for the Vice Presidential election on Tuesday. This was announced after a high-level meeting of NDA leaders on Thursday in New Delhi.
This meeting was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. In this, a proposal was passed to authorise Prime Minister Modi and BJP President Nadda. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told the media after the meeting that whichever candidate the Prime Minister and the BJP President choose, he will get the support of all the NDA allies.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Shiv Sena's Srikant Shinde, Lok Janshakti Party's Chirag Paswan, TDP's Lavu Krishna Devaraylu and Republican Party of India's Ramdas Athawale also attended the meeting. Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde had on Wednesday announced unconditional support to the BJP's candidate. The official announcement of the NDA's vice-presidential candidate is expected on Tuesday, before the August 21 last date for filing nominations.
Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from the post of Vice President midway due to health reasons, which necessitated the Vice Presidential election. However, his resignation has increased speculation about internal differences between the government and him. The Vice Presidential election will be held on 9 September.
The Vice President of India is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. With a clear majority in Parliament, the NDA has enough strength to ensure the victory of its chosen candidate. The Vice President also serves as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha of India, making the position politically important.