CONG TO FIELD SENIOR JAT LEADER AS VICE-PRESIDENT OF INDIA
NEW DELHI: The race for India’s next Vice President is quietly turning into a high-stakes political chess match, with both Congress and BJP keeping their final cards close to the chest.
While the Congress party has yet to formally announce its nominee, sources within the party confirm that serious deliberations are underway to field a senior Jat leader against the BJP’s official candidate. Strategists believe the move could be a symbolic yet powerful message to the influential Jat community, particularly in the wake of the recent demise of veteran Jat leader Satyapal Malik and the abrupt removal of Jagdeep Dhankhar, another Jat, from the post.
Party insiders say such a candidature could resonate deeply in Jat-dominated belts of Haryana, Punjab, western Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan — regions where Congress hopes to consolidate its base. The timing is particularly crucial for Punjab, which heads to polls in just 18 months.
On the other side, BJP’s decision-making process appears equally complex. Despite speculation, the party is yet to announce its nominee, with the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) exerting pressure for its own preferred choice. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to senior BJP leaders, is personally evaluating names and has signalled his intent to the RSS through recent informal outreach.
One such signal came in the form of an unexpected meeting with Vasundhara Raje, the former Rajasthan Chief Minister, at the Prime Minister’s residence. The meeting has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum, as Raje’s relationship with both Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah has been strained over the past few years. While BJP sources caution against reading too much into the meeting, some see it as a possible trial balloon — either to test the RSS’s reaction or to explore a consensus figure palatable to multiple factions.
If Congress does put forward a high-profile Jat leader, the contest could shift from a routine constitutional election to a politically charged referendum on rural and agrarian issues. For BJP, balancing the RSS’s ideological influence with electoral pragmatism will be a delicate act, especially in states where Jats have played kingmaker in past elections.
With the monsoon session of Parliament nearing its end and the nomination window opening soon, both parties are expected to firm up their decisions in the coming fortnight. Until then, the Vice Presidential race remains a silent but intense tug-of-war — one that could have ripple effects far beyond the ceremonial office.
[Writer is a Senior Journalist and Political Commentator]
