INDIA bloc decides to field VP candidate, weighs DMK-backed scientist Mylswamy Annadurai among options

New Delhi: Leaders of many INDIA bloc parties held an online meeting on Monday evening and decided in principle to field an Opposition vice-presidential candidate. While some probable names - including DMK-floated Mylswamy Annadurai, a space scientist from Tamil Nadu who had worked with ISRO - were discussed, the leaders decided to hold more talks before finalising the Opposition candidate, perhaps by Tuesday.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was authorised by the meeting to reach out to leaders such as Mamata Banerjee, Tejashwi Yadav and others. The bloc leaders may meet on Tuesday afternoon to finalise the name.

Mylswamy's name was circulated by some DMK members at the suggestion of their leader MK Stalin. DMK, some leaders say, would prefer a Tamil candidate in order to deal with BJP-AIADMK bid to play on the Tamil identity of NDA nominee CP Radhakrishnan. DMK MP Tiruchi Siva's name was also floated by some sections.


Trinamool leadership is reportedly keen on having a non-politician as Opposition candidate as a way of navigating through the fault lines within the Opposition camps. With DMK leadership on board, there were also suggestions of fielding a candidate from Andhra Pradesh or Maharashtra, where BJP has allies. Some argue that Opposition should make the contest against Radhakrishnan a "fight against his RSS background". Since Radhakrishnan is currently Maharashtra governor, a fact that weighs in the mind of some INDIA bloc leaders, some Opposition circles circulated the name of a former Dalit MP, but it didn't receive much traction.

The odds in the election are clearly against the Opposition as the ruling NDA is set to bag the post comfortably.