New Delhi: After being announced as NDA's Vice Presidential candidate for the upcoming polls, Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from the post of governor of West Bengal, He will file his nomination for the upcoming election today. The BJP on Saturday named Jagdeep Dhankhar, a Jat leader from Rajasthan with socialist background, as the ruling National Democratic Alliance's vice presidential candidate.
Making the announcement, BJP president J P Nadda lauded Dhankhar as a "kisan-putra" (son of farmer) who, he said, established himself as a "people's governor".
Nadda also urged the opposition parties to support the ruling National Democratic Alliance's vice presidential candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar as he cited the former West Bengal governor's humble background to seek backing from all parties.
Nadda described Dhankhar as a "kisan putra" (farmer's son) to emphasise on his farming background and his rise through hard work.
His nomination by the BJP and its allies as their vice presidential candidate is another step towards empowerment of farmers, Nadda said.
He has been serving the country for over three decades in different capacities and has proved to be a successful administrator and capable politician, the BJP chief said.
All parties should support him, Nadda said on a day the opposition decided to force a contest for the post of vice president by fielding former Rajasthan governor Margaret Alva as its joint candidate for the election scheduled for August 6.
Dhankhar's election as vice president, who is also the ex-officio chairperson of Rajya Sabha, is almost a certainty as the BJP has a majority in the electoral college comprising members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Out of Parliament's current strength of 780, the BJP alone has 394 MPs, more than the majority mark of 390.