|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
By Category |
 |
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
India On Media |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| Others
News |
|
| NDA nominee is Najma Heptulla |
| The National Democratic Alliance on Sunday announced that the former Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, Najma Heptulla, will be its Vice-President
|
| INDIA
, 23-July-2007
7:0:9 AM |
| Ms. Heptulla’s candidature was finalised at a meeting of NDA leaders at the residence of the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, on Sunday evening.
It was a unanimous choice,” Bharatiya Janata Party leader V.K. Malhotra said. His colleague Sushma Swaraj added that the decision was taken “entirely on merit.”
Among others, the meeting was attended by Janata Dal (United) leaders George Fernandes, Sharad Yadav and Digvijay Singh, S.S. Dhindsa of the Akali Dal and B.J. Panda from the Biju Janata Dal.
Two important NDA allies – Shiv Sena and the Trinamool Congress – were absent.
Mr. Malhotra said the decision would be conveyed to the two parties but pointed out that no prior consultation was done.
Legislators of the two parties had broken ranks with the BJP on the Presidential election. While the Sena voted for United Progressive Alliance candidate Pratibha Patil, the Trinamool stayed away from the electoral process.
It is not immediately known what they will do in the Vice-Presidential election.
Ms. Heptulla joined the Congress in 1973 and continued to be its member till just before the 2004 Lok Sabha election when she joined the BJP.
She is now serving her fifth term as Rajya Sabha member. She was a Congress MP four times and was elected Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha in 1988. She continued with the post till joining the BJP.
The BJP is relying on Ms. Heptulla’s personal equations with MPs cutting across party lines and not the electoral arithmetic to give a fight.
However, even BJP leaders are sceptical. They pointed out that MPs would vote only for the candidates of their parties.
The total number of votes in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha is 781.
The NDA’s strength is 240, including the Shiv Sena and the Trinamool, while the United Progressive Alliance, with its supporting Left parties, has 401 votes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ADVERTISEMENTS
Free offer!!! Become an administrator for your zip home page, "Post" local news (local to your postcode)& pictures, "Post" advertisement banners from local companies. Make Extra money.
|
 |
 |
|
|
| |
|
