Ex-union minister Margaret Alva is Opposition’s vice presidential candidate

The decision was taken at a meeting held at NCP president Sharad Pawar’s residence. Announcing the decision Pawar said that 17 Opposition parties have unanimously decided Alva’s name.

New Delhi: Opposition parties announced Sunday that former Union minister and governor Margaret Alva is their candidate for the vice-presidential election scheduled to be held next month.

The decision was taken at a meeting held at NCP president Sharad Pawar’s residence.

Announcing the decision, Pawar said that 17 Opposition parties have unanimously decided on Margaret Alva’s name.

Alva, a five-term Member of Parliament, has served as a minister at the Centre and as the governor of Goa.

The opposition leaders’ meeting, which began at 3 pm and continued till 4:30 pm, was attended by Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha; DMK’s TR Baalu; Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut; CPI leader D Raja; CPI leader Binoy Viswam; Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader Vaiko; TRS member Keshav Rao; Samajwadi Party leader Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav; CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury; IUML member ET Mohammed Basheer; and RJD’s Amarendra Dhari Singh.

However, no one was present in the meeting from the Trinamool Congress which is the second largest opposition party in the Rajya Sabha. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also did not attend the meeting.

On Saturday, the BJP had announced West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar as the NDA’s vice-presidential candidate.

The election for the office of Vice-President of India will be held on August 6 and the counting will take place on the same day. The last date to file a nomination is July 19.