VENKAIAH IS BJP V-P PICK
A fitting candidate for the office of Vice-President, says PM The Union minister will file his nomination papers today
The BJP on Monday officially announced its senior leader Muppa-varapu Venkaiah Naidu, 68, a “farmer’s son”, as the NDA’s vice-presidential candidate for the August 5 election. Famous for his oratory skills, the former BJP president and Union minister will file his nomination on Tuesday and take on the Opposition’s candidate Gopalkrishna Gandhi.
The vice-president also officiates as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
On his candidature, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “A fitting candidate for the office of Vice-President.”
Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, Mr Naidu is a prominent BJP face from South India and had been jailed during the Emergency.
Known for his quirky one-liners and rhymes, Mr Naidu is often seen passionately defending Mr Modi, his policies and taking on the Opposition in both Houses of Parliament. He had once described Mr Modi as the “gift to the nation from God” and “messiah of the poor”.
Mr Naidu had vigorously backed Mr Modi for the prime ministership before the 2014 elections.
In fact, Mr Naidu had coined the term “MODI — Making of Developed India”, which was the official theme of the BJP and the government’s outreach campaign on the occasion of its third anniversary in office.
VENKAIAH NAIDU IS ONLY THE 2ND TELUGU POLITICIAN WHO WILL MAKE IT AS THE V-P.
The first was V.V. Giri, Vice-President from 1967-69. He went on to become President from 1969 to 1974. The poll was necessitated by the death of Zakir Hussain, who was born in Hyderabad.
Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy from Anantapur was President from 1977 to 1982; he was never Vice-President.
Two Governors who served at the Hyderabad Raj Bhavan became Vice-Presidents: Shankar Dayal Sharma and Krishna Kant.