- INDIA bloc meets to finalise Opposition candidate for Vice President election on September 9
- NDA's candidate is CP Radhakrishnan, Governor of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu leader
- NDA holds majority with 422 seats against 394 required in combined houses
The INDIA bloc is holding a meet to finalise the Opposition candidate for the Vice President post -- the election is on September 9. The NDA named CP Radhakrishnan -- the Governor of Maharashtra and one of the party's tallest leaders from Tamil Nadu - as their candidate yesterday.
Going by the numbers, the NDA clearly has an edge. With the combined strength of both houses standing at 786, the majority mark is 394. The NDA's combined strength in the two houses is 422 -- 293 members in the Lok Sabha and 129 in the Rajya Sabha.
The Opposition, though, will field its candidate to underscore democratic principles and opposition unity, as they did in 2022 by fielding Margaret Alva.
Ms Alva, though, had lost to Jagdeep Dhankhar, who stepped down last month long ahead of time citing health, though sources later indicated that his decision on accepting an Opposition move to impeach a judge.
The INDIA bloc currently has a long list of candidates - one for the front-runners is DMK Rajya Sabha MP Tiruchi Siva.
Among the other names doing the rounds are Mylswami Annadurai, former ISRO scientist. Recognised with a Padma Shri award, he has served as the programme director not only for Chandrayaan-1 but also for Chandrayaan-2 and the Mars Orbiter mission.
No consensus has been reached yet. The DMK is pushing for a Tamil face -- a demand that ally Congress has agreed with.
Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress does not want a political face, sources said.
Trinamool had played spoiler last time too, staying away from the election - leading to heavier numbers in favour of Mr Dhankhar.
Choosing Mr Siva as its candidate could help the Opposition navigate the intricacies of regional politics, the sources indicated, highlighting several factors that may go in favour of the Tamil Nadu politician - not the least of which is that it could split the south votes.
