NEW DELHI, July 17:
Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, a veteran BJP leader from Andhra Pradesh, will be NDA’s Vice Presidential candidate, party president Amit Shah said today.
Naidu was chosen at the BJP Parliamentary board meeting here attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior party leaders.
The 68-year old Naidu currently holds the portfolios of Information and Broadcasting and Housing and Urban Affairs.
The former BJP president is pitted against Gopalkrishna Gandhi, who was chosen by an alliance of 18 opposition parties, including the Congress.
The Electoral College for the August 5 election consists of 790 MPs of the two chambers of Parliament.
Naidu will file his nomination tomorrow at 11 AM, Shah said.
Tomorrow is the last day for the filing of nominations.
Meanwhile, Naidu today resigned after he was chosen as the NDA’s candidate for the Vice Presidential election.
A source said Naidu has tendered his resignation. He was holding two portfolios of Information and Broadcasting, and Housing and Urban Affairs.
“Although Naidu was not required to resign technically, he has tendered his resignation to set high political standards as he has entered the electoral fray (for Vice Presidential position)” he said. (PTI)
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