The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has declared its support for Jagdeep Dhankhar, the NDA’s candidate against the opposition’s Margaret Alva, in the next vice presidential election, which is slated to take place on August 6. This comes as a major shock to the opposition. Notably, the party leader Mayawati announced on Wednesday that the party will be supporting the NDA candidate, claiming that the choice had been taken with the “wider public interest” in mind.
Taking to her Twitter, BSP chief Mayawati said, “It is well known that due to the lack of consensus between the government and the Opposition in the election for the post of the President of the country, the election was finally held for it. Now due to the same situation, the election for the post of Vice President is also going to be held on 6th August.”
She further added, “In such a situation, keeping in mind the wider public interest and its movement in the election being held for the post of Vice President, it has decided to extend its support to Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar and which I am also formally announcing today.”
It is important to note that Mayawati declared her party’s support for Droupadi Murmu of the NDA earlier in the race for president of India, defying the opposition parties.
Election day for vice president is on August 6
As Vice President Venkaiah Naidu’s term ends on August 10, an election for vice president will be held on August 6 to fill the position. Notably, the NDA, which is run by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), expressed confidence in Jagdeep Dhankhar, a former Union Minister and governor of West Bengal, and announced his candidacy for vice president in July. On the other hand, all opposition parties except the TMC declared Margaret Alva as their candidate. The members of both Houses of Parliament will vote to choose the vice president.
It is important to note that the Trinamool Congress (TMC), one of the main opposition parties, declared they will not participate in the voting for the vice president, providing the opposition’s unity a boost.
