Indian opposition pick Gandhi's grandson as candidate for vice president

India's opposition parties have picked former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi, who is the grandson of pre-independence icon Mahatma Gandhi, as their candidate for vice president of this country.

India's vice presidential elections will he held on Aug. 5. Incumbent Vice President Hamid Ansari's five-year term expires on Aug. 10.

"Gopalkrishna Gandhi has agreed to be the opposition's candidate for vice president," India's main opposition Congress party's chief Sonia Gandhi said after chairing a joint meet of leaders of 17 opposition parties in the national capital.

Gopalkrishna Gandhi was earlier said to be in the race for the opposition's presidential candidate. However, former Indian Parliament Speaker Meira Kumar was eventually chosen against ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) nominee Ram Nath Kovind.

BJP will also soon name its vice presidential candidate, sources said.

The vice president is elected indirectly by an electoral college comprising members of both houses of the Indian Parliament and the elections are held through secret ballots, conducted by the country's independent Election Commission.

The vice president acts as the Indian president in the latter's absence due to death, resignation, impeachment or other situations.

The vice president is also the ex-officio chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of Parliament.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)