A day after being named as the opposition candidate for the post of Vice President by the Congress and 17…
Gopalkrishna Gandhi (PHOTO: IANS)
A day after being named as the opposition candidate for the post of Vice President by the Congress and 17 other parties, Former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi on Wednesday said he is a 'citizen candidate' who is worried about the future of the country.
"I see myself as a citizen candidate, I am an independent citizen and a very ordinary person. I am not a politician. I am a citizen candidate who is worried about the future of the country," he said, adding, “I am grateful to the 18 opposition parties for having thought of me."
Expressing concern over the crisis in the country, he said he has faith in the institutions of democracy and common sense of Indians.
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“There is a mini crisis in India. Crisis of terror, fear and there is also an agrarian crisis. But I have faith in institutions of democracy and common sense of Indians,” he said.
"And I would like to say to the Parliamentarians, who form the electoral college should choose the Vice-President in a view to make the Rajya Sabha a true instrument as it was in the times passed and it has been over the years – a true instrument for voicing the views and the feeling of the states of India which is called the council of the states and that is what I see the role of the Vice-President as the chairman of the Rajya Sabha to be," he added.
According to reports, 18 opposition parties on Tuesday named former West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi as the Opposition's nominee for Vice President.
"Gopalkrishna Gandhi is the opposition candidate for the Vice Presidential election. We have spoken to him and he has agreed to be the opposition candidate," Congress President Sonia Gandhi said.
Gandhi's name was proposed at the meeting by the Trinamool Congress and backed by all the parties present. No other name was discussed in the meeting.
The last date for filing of nomination for the Vice President's post is July 18. The scrutiny of the papers will take place on July 19. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is July 21.
(With inputs from agencies)
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