BJP Prepares for High Stakes VP Election

Upcoming vice presidential election sparks speculation over BJP's strategy and opposition unity.

- AJIT MAINDOLA

The upcoming Vice Presidential election is shaping up to be an intriguing political contest, with both the ruling NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc set to announce their candidates in the coming days. While the BJP has convened a parliamentary party meeting today, the opposition will hold its strategy session a day later, on Monday.

According to indications from the BJP, the party is likely to put forward a candidate with a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) background. However, the crucial question is whether the nominee will belong to a forward caste or a backward community.

On the opposition side, it is almost certain that the Congress will announce the candidate on behalf of the INDIA Alliance. What remains to be seen is whether Congress fields a Jat leader—aiming to capitalise on farmer politics after the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar—or whether it opts for a different face.

The matter of a Jat nominee has assumed importance as the opposition had earlier accused the BJP of being "anti-Jat" in the wake of Dhankhar's exit. Although BJP's victory appears inevitable given its numbers, the opposition is expected to leverage this election for political messaging and mobilising sympathy.