If the speculations doing rounds in the political circles are to be believed, Andhra Pradesh governor S Abdul Nazir is likely to be the candidate of National Democratic Alliance government for the Vice-Presidential post.
Following the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar, the Election Commission of India released the schedule for the election of the new Vice President.
The INDIA bloc is expected to take a decision after the NDA finalizes its candidate. Several names are already making rounds in political circles for the post.
According to sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a strategic decision to allocate the Vice-Presidential position to a leader from South India, particularly from a minority community.
Initially, there was speculation that the candidate would be from Bihar, with names of several leaders surfacing.
It was even rumoured that the post might be offered to JD(U), an NDA ally headed by Nitish Kumar. However, with changing political equations, the Modi team seems to have adopted a new strategy.
Sources suggest a near-final decision has been made to select a South Indian leader for the post. Moreover, appointing someone from a minority community is being seen as a tactical move to push the INDIA bloc onto the defensive.
In this context, the name of current Andhra Pradesh Governor Justice S. Abdul Nazeer has unexpectedly emerged.
Hailing from Karnataka, Nazeer served as a judge for several years and was part of the historic Ayodhya verdict during his tenure in the Supreme Court.
He was appointed Governor of Andhra Pradesh in February 2023. Having completed more than two and a half years in office, he is now seen as a strong contender for the Vice President’s role.
With Droupadi Murmu serving as President – representing the tribal community – the BJP’s plan is to avoid giving room to the opposition by assigning the Vice-Presidential role to a South Indian from a minority background.
The BJP leadership in Delhi believes this could pay political dividends ahead of crucial elections in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh is expected to continue in his role, while the Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker post may go to a leader from Tamil Nadu or West Bengal.
Currently, the NDA has a clear majority in the electoral college to secure a win for its Vice-Presidential nominee.
Modi’s strategy appears aimed at not just electing their candidate smoothly but also leaving no opportunity for the INDIA alliance to mount a credible challenge.
If Abdul Nazeer is finalized, he will become the first Vice President from the minority community after Hamid Ansari.
Like M. Venkaiah Naidu, who had ties with both Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Nazeer is also expected to create history.
A final decision is likely to emerge within the next two days.
