Congress leadership starts internal deliberations on vice-presidential election
However, there was no official word on what transpired in the meeting. Another round of meetings is likely in the next few days to finalise a name that will find a broad consensus among the INDIA bloc's constituents.
Opportunity for unity
At a dinner hosted by Mr. Gandhi on August 7, INDIA bloc leaders agreed in principle to field a candidate for the Vice Presidential poll even though the Opposition does not have the requisite number of MPs to win the election.
The Opposition plans to force a contest by fielding a candidate.
The joint protest against the special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar has become a rallying point for the INDIA bloc parties, and the vice-presidential election is being seen as another occasion to put Opposition unity on display.
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