In VP contest, INDIA bloc seeks symbolism over numbers — but can it stay united?

Facing a daunting numerical disadvantage in Parliament, the opposition INDIA bloc is mulling a symbolic and ideologically potent candidate for the upcoming vice-presidential election, seeking to use the contest to draw a stark contrast with the ruling BJP and consolidate its core constituencies ahead of key electoral battles.

According to a ToI report, senior leaders in the INDIA bloc believe the vice-presidential election presents an opportunity to articulate a broader political message—one that underscores concerns about constitutional integrity, the rights of marginalised communities, and secular governance.

With numbers stacked against them in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, opposition strategists acknowledge the unlikelihood of electoral victory, but view the contest as a platform to showcase ideological resistance.


A senior leader told ToI that the candidate, while unlikely to win, “must be someone who can reflect the core values of the opposition—social justice, secularism, federalism, and democratic accountability.”

The bloc is considering names that can appeal to backward communities, minorities, farmers, and civil society, with insiders suggesting that the choice could be a prominent intellectual, rights activist, or an experienced public figure known for standing up to authoritarianism.

INDIA bloc meet on August 7; VP polls, Bihar, and voter rolls on agenda

The INDIA bloc is scheduled to meet on Thursday, August 7, with multiple issues on the table. These include preliminary deliberations on the VP candidate, the upcoming Bihar assembly polls, and the ongoing controversy over alleged manipulation of electoral rolls in the state.

At the meeting, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to make a presentation on what he has described as his party’s "research" into the Bihar voters' list.

Gandhi has alleged large-scale tampering aimed at benefiting the BJP, a charge that is likely to intensify the opposition’s rhetoric against the government’s handling of electoral processes.

Sources told ToI that the VP election will also be a key point of discussion. However, reaching a consensus on a candidate may prove challenging given the inherent tensions within the alliance, where several regional players are direct electoral rivals.

Dhankhar’s resignation fuels political temperature

The vice-presidential election has come earlier than expected following the abrupt resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar last month. Dhankhar, known for frequent run-ins with the opposition, stepped down amid controversy over his decision to entertain motions to remove Justices Shekhar Yadav and Yashwant Varma—reportedly against the advice of the government.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday accused the Modi government of undermining constitutional authorities and claimed Dhankhar was forced to resign after exercising independence.

“The one time he made a decision independently, he had to go,” Kharge said, adding that Dhankhar had often acted in a biased manner against the opposition.

The episode has sharpened the opposition's narrative that the ruling BJP is stifling institutional independence and manipulating democratic processes—a theme it is likely to project through its choice of vice-presidential nominee.

This is not the first time the opposition has used the VP contest to make an ideological point. In 2017, it had fielded Gopal Krishna Gandhi—grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and a respected former diplomat and governor—against BJP’s M Venkaiah Naidu. Though Gandhi lost, his candidature was widely seen as a principled stand.

However, by 2022, cracks within the opposition had widened. With several allies at odds and no consensus candidate emerging, the Congress fielded veteran leader Margaret Alva against BJP’s Jagdeep Dhankhar, in a contest that saw limited enthusiasm across the opposition spectrum.

(With inputs from ToI)