“Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji has excellent knowledge of our Constitution. He is also well-versed with legislative affairs. I am sure that he will be an outstanding Chair in the Rajya Sabha & guide the proceedings of the House with the aim of furthering national progress. @jdhankhar1” – Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. 

The BJP on Saturday announced that Governor of West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar would be the party’s and the NDA’s candidate to contest for the post of Vice President for which election would be held on August 6.

The decision on Dhankhar’s name was taken at a meeting of BJP’s Parliamentary Board consisting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, besides BJP president JP Nadda. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and Nitin Gadkari besides party president JP Nadda attended the meeting of the BJP’s apex organisational body on Saturday.

Announcing the decision, BJP chief J.P. Nadda said Dhankhar is a “kisan putra (son of farmer)” who established himself as the “people’s governor”. Dhankar had met PM Modi earlier in the day.

“Kisan Putra Jagdeep Dhankar is known for his humility. He brings with him an illustrious legal, legislative and gubernatorial career. He has always worked for the well-being of farmers, youth, women and the marginalised. Glad that he will be our VP candidate,” tweeted PM Modi, adding: “He has excellent knowledge of our Constitution. He is also well-versed with legislative affairs. I am sure that he will be an outstanding Chair in the Rajya Sabha and guide the proceedings of the House with the aim of furthering national progress.”

Union home minister Amit Shah also heaped praises on Dhankhar. “The manner in which Dhankar ji, the farmer son of Virbhoomi Rajasthan, has reached here today after facing many economic and social challenges, it is inspiring for all … In a public life spanning over 3 decades, Dhankar ji has contributed significantly to the development of the country. As MLA, MP or Governor of Bengal, he was constantly associated with the people in his every responsibility. Even as an advocate, he always put the protection of the interests of the society first,” tweeted Shah.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has extended JD-U’s support to Dhankhar as the Vice President. The last date for filing of nomination papers for the election is July 19 and the election is scheduled for August 6.

Jagdeep Dhankhar has been in public life for more than three decades. He entered public life after getting elected as the Member of Parliament from Jhunjhunu in the 1989 Lok Sabha elections. Subsequently, he also served as a Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in 1990. In 1993, he was elected to the Rajasthan assembly from the Kishangarh constituency in Ajmer district.

In July 2019, he was appointed as the Governor of West Bengal, where he has worked hard and made a mark as a People’s Governor, highlighting issues of public welfare.

In 2017, BJP had named the then Cabinet minister M Venkaiah Naidu, a former BJP chief and veteran parliamentarian, as its Vice Presidential candidate, after picking then Bihar Governor Ram Nath Kovind for the Presidential contest. Both Kovind and Naidu had won the polls comfortably to occupy the two highest constitutional posts of the country. The term of Naidu ends on August 10.

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