West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar is BJP's Vice President candidate

New Delhi, July 16

The BJP today named West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar as the NDA’s candidate for the post of Vice President, the election for which is scheduled for August 6.

Making the announcement, BJP president JP Nadda lauded Dhankhar as a “kisan putra” (farmer’s son), who established himself as a “people’s Governor”.

The BJP parliamentary board in a meeting, attended by PM Narendra Modi and other senior leaders, picked the 71-year-old Dhankhar after deliberating over several names, Nadda said.

Well versed in legislative affairs

He will be an outstanding Chair in the Rajya Sabha & guide the proceedings with the aim of furthering national progress. Narendra Modi, PM

Since taking over as the West Bengal Governor in July 2019, Dhankhar has had several run-ins with the Mamata Banerjee-led government. While his proactive conduct has drawn criticism from the state’s ruling Trinamool Congress, the BJP has backed him, noting that he had stuck to constitutional provisions.

Lauding the party’s decision, PM Modi tweeted, “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.” The last date for the filing of nomination papers is July 19 and the voting will take place on August 6. Dhankhar was a Janata Dal MP from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, during 1989-91, and served as Parliamentary Affairs Minister. He was also elected to the Rajasthan Assembly from the Kishangarh seat in Ajmer district in 1993. He joined the BJP in 2003.

He got a degree in law from the University of Rajasthan. A leading lawyer, he served as president of the Rajasthan High Court Bar Association.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet, “So it is curtains for Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu. His humour and wit will be missed. On many occasions, he got the Opposition all agitated but at the end of it a good man exits.”

BJP has the numbers

• BJP has majority in the electoral college comprising Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs
• Of the 780 MPs, BJP has 394 while the majority mark is 390

Wooing Jats

• Being a Jat, a backward community in R’sthan, elevation to send a political message
• Played role in grant of OBC status for Jats in Rajasthan
• Has had several run-ins with BJP’s arch-rival TMC in WB