Opposition picks Gopalkrishna Gandhi as Vice president candidate

Earlier Gopalkrishna Gandhi's name was doing the rounds as a Presidential candidate  The 71-year-old Gandhi has had a vast career and has served in quite a few respectful posts He is the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and is also related to India's last Governor General C Rajagopalachari

Eighteen opposition parties have decided to field former West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi as their joint candidate for the post of vice president, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi said on Tuesday.

Gopalkrishna Gandhi's name was endorsed by all 18 opposition parties, including the JD(U), which is backing the NDA's candidate in the presidential poll. "The 18 opposition parties have unanimously agreed to field Gopalkrishna Gandhi as their joint candidate for the vice presidential election. We spoke to him. He has agreed to be the joint opposition candidate," the Congress president said after the meeting.

Opposition leaders, including AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and TMC's Derek O'Brien, called the former governor from the meeting to seek his consent. The vice presidential election, if required, will take place on August 5. Votes will be counted the same evening.