Rahul Gandhi gets Nitish Kumar’s nod over support to opposition vice-presidential candidate Gopal krishna Gandhi

New Delhi: Days after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar broke ranks with the Opposition and announced his support to NDA presidential nominee Ram Nath Kovind, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has now reached out to the Janata Dal United leader seeking his support to Gopal Krishna Gandhi, who was picked by the non-NDA parties as their vice-presidential candidate yesterday.

During a meeting yesterday, the opposition parties unanimously agreed to field Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Gopalkrishna in the vice-presidential elections.

Rahul reportedly had a phone conversation with Nitish during which the latter confirmed his support for the opposition’s candidate for vice president.

According to the reports, Gandhi was the only name, discussed when 18 Opposition parties met today to decide on their candidate for the vice-presidential poll.

The Janata Dal United, represented by Sharad Yadav chose Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson to be its nominee for vice-president.

Other leaders who were present during the meeting included Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, TMC’s Derek O’ Brien, CPI(M)’s Sitaram Yechury, NC’s Omar Abdullah, SP’s Naresh Agarwal and BSP’s Satish Chandra Mishra.

Hamid Ansari has been the Vice President and ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha since August 11, 2007. He won a second term on August 11, 2012. His current term ends on August 10. Polling for the vice-president’s post will take place on August 5 if required. The votes will be counted the same evening.