The INDIA bloc is preparing to nominate a joint candidate for the upcoming vice presidential elections, with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge engaging
with opposition parties to build consensus. While there are no formal discussions yet, informal talks are ongoing regarding potential candidates. Kharge is reaching out to opposition parties to explore names and reach a consensus on it, sources told PTI on Sunday. While there is consensus among parties that the INDIA bloc will put up a joint candidate for the vice presidential polls, a section in the opposition camp believes that the INDIA bloc must decide their candidate after the BJP announces its pick, sources revealed. Backchannel talks for the same are on among INDIA bloc partners to deliberate on names of possible candidates, even though there is no structured discussion yet on picking a candidate. Irrespective of the outcome, sources told the news agency that there is a strong feeling in the bloc that opposition parties should not shy away from a contest to send a strong political message. Also Read: Shashi Tharoor Asked Who Will Be The Next Vice President? His Response | WATCH In a show of unity, top INDIA bloc leaders recently held a dinner meeting at the residence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, the first physical meeting of top leaders of the opposition bloc since they last met in June 2024, soon after the Lok Sabha elections. This came amid the bloc's strong opposition to the electoral rolls' revision in Bihar as well as what they described as the "vote chori model" of the BJP-Election Commission. Several leaders from 25 parties were present at the meeting, which included Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar, National Conference supremo Farooq Abdullah, PDP's Mehbooba Mufti, SP's Akhilesh Yadav, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, TMC's Abhishek Banerjee, Shiv Sena(UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, DMK's Tiruchi Siva and T R Baalu, CPI(M)'s M A Baby, CPI's D Raja, CPI(ML)'s Dipankar Bhattacharya and MNM chief Kamal Haasan. Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal termed the meeting as one of the "most successful" and when asked whether the vice presidential election was also discussed, said, "There wasn't much discussion on the vice presidential election... There are other occasions for it." Kharge will also host a dinner for INDIA bloc MPs on Monday. Also Read: Why Did Jagdeep Dhankhar Resign As Vice President? Congress Chief Kharge Hints 'Between Him And Modi...'
Vice President Election 2025
The Election Commission last Thursday issued a notification for the September 9 vice presidential poll, kickstarting the exercise to elect Jagdeep Dhankhar's successor. Dhankhar resigned on July 21 from his post as vice president, citing medical reasons.
The effective strength of both the Houses together is 781, and the winning candidate will require 391 votes in the election for the vice president, considering all eligible voters exercise their franchise. All members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including the nominated ones, vote in the vice presidential poll. The NDA seems to have the numbers on its side with a strength of around 422 members.
According to the notification, August 21 is the last date for filing nominations and the documents will be scrutinised on August 22. The last date for the withdrawal of nominations is August 25.
(With PTI inputs)
