Will the Opposition Unite on Vice President Candidate? Inside INDIA Bloc’s Strategy

The race for the Vice President’s post has picked up pace after the NDA named Tamil Nadu’s C.P. Radhakrishnan as its candidate. Now all eyes are on the Opposition, as the INDIA alliance begins discussions on whether to put up a joint nominee. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is reaching out to allies for suggestions, and party sources say the candidate does not necessarily have to come from Congress. If a clean and neutral name is proposed by other parties, Congress is ready to back it.

Discussion with Rahul Gandhi

In consultations with Mallikarjun Kharge, the names suggested by INDIA alliance parties and those proposed by Congress will also be discussed with Rahul Gandhi, who in turn will speak to other leaders such as Pawar, Hemant, and Tejashwi. Rahul Gandhi will reach Delhi on the evening of the 19th and will return to Bihar for the yatra on the 21st. In the meantime, if all parties agree, the final announcement will be made after consensus on the name.

What did the Samajwadi Party say?

When SP leader Akhilesh Yadav was asked about the Vice President’s election, he said:
“The Vice President’s post was vacant and after that a new Vice President had to be elected. What decision we take now is a different matter; we will sit together and decide.”

What did Congress say?

On the NDA declaring Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan as its Vice President candidate, Congress MP Imran Masood said:“This is BJP’s own matter. Our leaders will decide our strategy. If a candidate has been decided, that will be discussed in the party. I have no knowledge of that.”

On the same issue, Congress MP Manickam Tagore said:

“INDIA alliance leaders will meet and decide on their stance and candidate. We all know that C.P. Radhakrishnan has been associated with the RSS. He was an MP from Tamil Nadu and also BJP president from Tamil Nadu. So, he has links to Tamil Nadu and is now Governor of Maharashtra, but his connections with the RSS cannot be forgotten.”

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, reacting to Radhakrishnan’s candidature, said:

“INDIA alliance leaders have discussed this matter and I hope a consensus will be built, and we will very soon make our decision public.”

What is Shiv Sena (UBT)’s stand?

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said:

“Why should our party support? C.P. Radhakrishnan is the Governor of Maharashtra. He comes from Tamil Nadu. He worked hard to increase BJP’s influence in Tamil Nadu, he has been state president there. He has links with the RSS and the Jan Sangh. So, he is a party cadre person, not an outsider. Since he is party cadre and linked with RSS, consensus was built within RSS and BJP over his name. If the Maharashtra Governor becomes Vice President, we will express happiness. But, of course, an election will take place.”

He further said:

“The INDIA bloc will take a decision what decision, I cannot say right now. Today we will discuss this. Earlier too, the party has discussed this matter. We will discuss and then decide. There are issues in the country more serious than the Vice President’s post. The issue of vote theft is a serious matter, and we do not want to divert attention from that.”

What is TMC’s stand?

Sources said Opposition leaders claim that the TMC wants the Opposition too to field a candidate against NDA’s Vice President nominee C.P. Radhakrishnan.