Opposition vice-presidential candidate Gopalkrishna Gandhi has sought support from both factions of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, PTI reported on Saturday.
Gandhi, who was nominated unanimously by the members of 18 Opposition parties on July 11, has written to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and the leader of the rival faction of the ruling AIADMK, O Panneerselvam. Palaniswami, however, had supported the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s candidate for president.
“In a letter that I have written to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, I have requested the support of the Members of Parliament from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to my candidature for the office of the Vice President of India,” Gandhi said in a statement. “In a similar letter that I have written to the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, O Panneerselvam, I have made a similar request, recalling the privilege that I had, as an IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, of serving under the late Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MGR and his kindnesses to me.”
The former West Bengal Governor and the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi also said he met Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader M Karunanidhi and thanked him for joining the parties in proposing his name. Gandhi also said he will be contacting leaders of other political formations, across the country.
The vice presidential elections will be held on August 5. The BJP has not yet announced its candidate for the post. Incumbent Hamid Ansari’s tenure will end on August 10. Ansari has held the post for two consecutive terms.
The Election Commission has appointed Rajya Sabha Secretary General Shamsher Sharif the returning officer for the polls.
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