New Delhi: The platform is ready for the vice-presidential election on Saturday, with numbers in favour of ruling NDA candidate M. Venkaiah Naidu who is most likely to become the second person with RSS background to take up the second most big constitutional post.
Members of Parliament (MPs) of both houses will elect India's 15th vice-president today. While voting takes place between 10 am and 5 pm, counting would start soon after polling. Result is expected to be declared around 7 pm today itself.
Venkaiah Naidu is opposing against opposition candidate Gopalkrishna Gandhi in the election that will take place in Parliament House with the electoral college include 790 members of both the houses.
Announcing Naidu's candidature for vice president, BJP president Amit Shah told the media, "All the NDA allies have welcomed his candidate. He is one of the most experienced leaders across party lines.”
Opposition candidate and Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi has the backing of 18 political parties, including the Congress.
Gopalkrishna Gandhi served as an IAS officer from 1968 till 1992.Gandhi was the secretary to the Vice President from 1985 to 1987, joint secretary to President from 1987 to 1992 and secretary to President in 1997.
Gopalkrishna Gandhi was appointed as High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka. He was appointed Ambassador of India to Norway and Iceland.
To the contest for the vice-presidential election, a person must have completed over 35 years of age and do not hold any office of profit.
He or she must also be a member of the Rajya Sabha, while in the case of President, the candidate must be a member of the Lok Sabha.
Members of the state legislatures do not take part in the vice-presidential election.
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