BJP Picks 'Kisan Putra' Jagdeep Dhankhar As Vice-President Candidate At Party's Parliamentary Meet

Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are eligible to vote in the Vice Presidential election.

New Delhi: Amidst the election campaign being run across the country for the Presidential election, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) named West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar as the party's candidate for the post of Vice President of the country on Saturday. "NDA's candidate for the post of Vice President of India to be Jagdeep Dhankhar", said BJP chief JP Nadda after the meeting. "Jagdeep Dhankhar is a Kisan Putra (son of farmer) who established himself as people's governor," added Nadda.

BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief JP Nadda, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh, BJP National General Secretary BL Santosh and Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan arrived at party headquarters in Delhi for the meeting.

PM Modi also said Dhankhar brings with him an illustrious legal, legislative and gubernatorial career and has always worked for the well-being of farmers, youth, women and the marginalised.

"Kisan Putra Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji is known for his humility. He brings with him an illustrious legal, legislative and gubernatorial career. He has always worked for the well-being of farmers, youth, women and the marginalised. Glad that he will be our VP candidate," Modi said in a tweet.

The prime minister said Dhankhar has an excellent knowledge of the Constitution.

"He is also well-versed with legislative affairs. I am sure that he will be an outstanding Chair in the Rajya Sabha & guide the proceedings of the House with the aim of furthering national progress," said PM.

The nomination process for the election of the next Vice President of the country has started. The last date for nomination for the post of Vice-President is July 19 and if more than one candidate remains in the fray, then the election for the post of Vice-President will be held on August 6 and the results will also be announced on the same day.

Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are eligible to vote in the Vice Presidential election. Talking about the numbers, the NDA alliance has the upper hand. BJP has enough numbers to make its candidate win. But after announcing the name of the candidate, BJP will also establish contact with non-NDA political parties and seek support for their candidate.

The electoral college for picking the next Vice President of the country, who is also the Rajya Sabha chairperson, consists of members of both houses of the Parliament -- the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.