BJP meet to finalise V-P nominee today; J&K L-G Sinha, Saxena in the running

The ruling BJP is intensifying its search for a vice presidential nominee, with its top decision-making body, the 11-member parliamentary board, scheduled to meet on Sunday evening to finalise a candidate.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president JP Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah are among key members of the board. An official announcement is expected by Monday, it is learnt.

The vice presidential election, slated for September 9, has August 21 as the last date for filing nominations. It is learnt CMs and deputy CMs of the BJP and NDA-ruled states will be in Delhi on August 20 and are likely to accompany the PM and alliance partners for the nomination filing.

Several names are under consideration, including RSS ideologue Seshadri Chari, Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, Sikkim Governor Om Mathur, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, and Delhi L-G VK Saxena. Sources said Sinha was a strong contender since he had a long experience in J&K and belonged to Bihar where elections were due. They said if Sinha was brought to Delhi, Saxena might replace him as J&K L-G.

“Everything is currently in the realm of speculation. Deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh could also be considered for elevation,” said a party leader.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the BJP will organise an orientation programme for all NDA MPs from September 6 to 8 to brief them on election procedures. Unlike past conventions, the government has not yet reached out to the Opposition for a consensus, though the Congress-led INDIA bloc has announced it will field a non-political joint candidate.

The Vice-President is elected by MPs of both Houses of Parliament. The election follows the mid-term resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21.