Kharge to host INDIA bloc MPs for dinner ahead of V-P polls on Monday

Congress said the meeting is aimed at reinforcing opposition support for V-P candidate B Sudershan Reddy, who faces NDA nominee CP Radhakrishnan in the 9 September election.

Former Supreme Court judge Justice B. Sudershan Reddy with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Congress MP K.C. Venugopal, and others after a meeting of the INDIA bloc, where Justice Reddy was announced as the vice presidential candidate of the INDIA bloc | AICC via PTI

New Delhi: Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge will host a dinner for the INDIA bloc MPs on Monday evening at the Parliament annexe, a day before voting for the Vice-Presidential election.

The meeting is to reinforce the opposition’s unity and support for their VP candidate, B Sudershan Reddy, who is also supported by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi.

“@TelanganaCMO spoke to me today and requested that we support Justice Sudershan Reddy as Vice President. @aimim_national will extend its support to Justice Reddy, a fellow Hyderabadi and a respected jurist,” Owaisi wrote in a post on social media platform X.

The election, scheduled for September 9, will witness a direct contest between Justice (Retd.) B Sudershan Reddy, backed by the INDIA bloc, and the NDA’s nominee, CP Radhakrishnan.

The Vice Presidential post fell vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on July 21, citing health reasons.

The VP is elected through an electoral college, which consists of MPs from both houses of Parliament.

The election of the Vice President is governed by the provisions under Articles 64 and 68 of the Constitution. The Election Commission notifies the VP polls by the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952.

As per Article 66(1) of the Constitution of India, the election of the Vice President shall be held by the system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote, and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.

Earlier, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had also issued a letter to all its Members of Parliament (MPs), directing them to reach Delhi by September 6.

BJP national president JP Nadda has invited all party MPs for a dinner at his residence on September 6 at 7 pm. On September 7, the MPs have been instructed to attend a party workshop scheduled from 9 am till late evening.

The workshop will continue on September 8 from 3 pm to 6 pm at the GMC Balayogi Auditorium in the Parliament complex. Later that evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a dinner for all MPs of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at his residence.

This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.