Opposition meet to pick V-P candidate remains inconclusive, another round of parleys on August 19

The meeting of INDIA bloc leaders on Monday (August 18, 2025) at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s official residence to decide the Opposition candidate for the Vice-President’s post remained inconclusive.

“A meeting of leaders of all Opposition parties in Parliament will be held at 12:30 PM tomorrow Tuesday Aug 19th at 10, Rajaji Marg,” Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.

The Opposition bloc is likely to announce its choice on Tuesday (August 19, 2025).

According to sources, the Congress president, who is also the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Rajya Sabha, was committed to fielding a candidate and not conceding without a contest. On Sunday night, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had reached out to the leaders of some Opposition parties, including Mr. Kharge for unanimously electing the new Vice-President.

Sources said the Opposition wants to field a non-political face who has national standing and stature for the second-highest constitutional position in the country. The vice-presidential election, necessitated by the sudden resignation of incumbent Jagdeep Dhankhar last month, is scheduled for September 9. The last date for filing nominations is August 21.

Though no name was finalised, several possible candidates were considered. According to sources, on DMK’s suggestion, Indian scientist Mylswamy Annadurai, who during his tenure at ISRO worked on two of the major missions of ISRO, namely Chandrayaan-1 and Mangalyaan, was also discussed.

The Trinamool Congress, however, was of the opinion that it would be “reactive” to field another Tamilian in response to the NDA’s vice-presidential candidate — Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan.

Mr. Annadurai hails from the same Kongu region as Mr. Radhakrishnan. His scientific and apolitical background is an advantage.

If a consensus on Mr. Annadurai’s candidature emerges within the Opposition ranks and if he agrees to contest, it will help the DMK and its allies politically as they will not be seen as “anti-Tamil” in opposing Mr Radhakrishnan.

Another name that is said to have been discussed is Tushar Gandhi, the great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, sources claimed.

There were also some reservations among RJD and SP leaders about contesting the vice-presidential polls since the numbers are loaded in favour of the NDA. They argued that since the Opposition does not have the requisite numbers, it should let this election go in view of the upcoming Bihar polls, which they argued needs more attention.

The SP also argued that the Opposition should focus its energy on its campaign against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. “So far, we have presented a united front, and any cross voting in VP’s election would send a wrong message,” a senior SP leader opined.

(With inputs from B. Kolappan)