The BJP Parliamentary Board is likely to meet on Sunday (August 16) to decide the Vice President candidate, sources told news agency ANI.
As the Vice Presidential elections near, the BJP has turned its focus to the polls with a strategy that involves the inclusion of its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners to maximise votes.
As part of this plan, the party has instructed its MPs in both Houses of Parliament to participate in a training workshop that will be held in Delhi from September 6 to 9 - inaugurated by BJP national president JP Nadda.
The sessions, led by senior Union ministers and experienced parliamentarians, will provide guidance on MPs’ duties and responsibilities, reports said. The attendance for the full duration of the workshop is mandatory and the MPs have been instructed to reach the Capital by the evening of September 6
Moreover, in a bid to ensure maximum presence ahead of the September 9 VP polls, NDA MPs who chair parliamentary committees have been asked to schedule their meetings for September 8.
The workshop that will be held in the national capital will also feature a mock voting exercise to familiarise first-time and younger MPs with the process of the Vice-Presidential elections.
Strategically, the NDA's plan is to organise MPs into smaller groups, assigning leaders from across alliance parties to coordinate within these groups to ensure maximum voter participation on polling day.
The government also plans to extend its reach to fence-sitter parties that have adopted a flexible stance previously. These include parties such as the BRS, YSR Congress Party and BJD who have, in the past extended support to NDA-backed candidates based on the nominee’s profile rather than party alignment.
As of now, neither the NDA nor the Opposition has named a candidate. Senior government floor managers, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha JP Nadda and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju are expected to reach out to opposition leaders in an effort to build consensus.
However, given the Opposition’s united stance against the NDA, agreement on a common candidate appears unlikely unless prior consultations take place. Opposition parties are also expected to field their own nominee.
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