The INDIA Bloc decides to contest the Vice-Presidential election scheduled for September 9, aiming to challenge the BJP despite lacking numbers, highlighting their constitutional and political resistance.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
NEW DELHI: Leaders of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) have agreed, in principle, to field a candidate for the upcoming Vice-Presidential election. This decision comes despite the Opposition lacking the numbers to secure a win; the move is intended to ensure a contest and make a political statement.
The consensus was reached at a dinner meeting hosted by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, marking the first physical gathering of the INDIA bloc partners in 14 months; their last meeting took place on June 1, 2024.
The Election Commission notified the Vice-Presidential poll on Thursday, with August 21 set as the last date for filing nominations
The dinner meeting was not limited to election strategy. Leaders also focused on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, which the Opposition claims is a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise eligible voters.
Rahul Gandhi began the meeting with a 30-minute presentation, echoing points he had raised earlier at a press conference. Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav detailed discrepancies in the draft rolls published on August 1 and announced that, from August 10 to September 1, the INDIA bloc parties will launch a statewide campaign in Bihar. The campaign will culminate in a public meeting attended by all alliance leaders.
The meeting also heard from Farooq Abdullah, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and leader of the National Conference. Abdullah urged the alliance to press the government to restore Statehood to J&K, noting the region’s lack of representation in the Rajya Sabha and the prolonged vacancy of its Assembly seats. He also criticised recent orders by Lt.-Governor Manoj Sinha banning certain books, calling for united Opposition resistance.
After dinner, a smaller group of leaders held a private strategy session on the Vice-Presidential election. Key attendees included Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, K.C. Venugopal (Congress), Abhishek Banerjee and Derek O’Brien (Trinamool Congress), Akhilesh Yadav (Samajwadi Party), K. Kanimozhi (DMK), Uddhav Thackeray, and Supriya Sule (NCP-SP).
A senior leader, familiar with the discussions, said the Opposition might wait to see who the BJP nominates before announcing their own candidate.
“Since our fight is centred around the campaign to save the Constitution, our candidate should be someone — whether politician or academic — who symbolises this ideological battle,”
the leader noted.
Click Here to Read More Reports on the Vice-Presidential Election
