Saturday, June 7, 2025
spot_img

Trinamool to abstain from voting in Vice Presidential poll

Date:

Share post:

spot_imgspot_img

Kolkata, July 21: The Trinamool Congress said on Thursday that its MPs in both the Houses of the Parliament will abstain from voting in the poll to elect the next Vice President of India scheduled on August 6.

The decision was taken on Thursday afternoon at a meeting chaired by party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, which was attended by 33 out of the 35 Trinamool MPs.

“Each member was given the opportunity to present his/her views in front of the Chief Minister. Thereafter, 85 per cent of the MPs present at the meeting voiced in favour of abstaining from voting in the Vice Presidential poll,” Trinamool’s national General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee told mediapersons after the meeting.

He said while the question of supporting NDA nominee Jagdeep Dhankhar does not arise, Trinamool has strong objections to the opposition parties announcing the candidature of Margaret Alva as their candidate without consulting the Trinamool leadership or Mamata Banerjee.

“Discussions were on with us over some probable names as the opposition candidate. But we were surprised in the manner in which suddenly a meeting of some opposition parties was convened at the residence of NCP chief Sharad Pawar after which the name of Margaret Alva was announced as the opposition candidate.

“We have nothing against Margaret Alva. Mamata Banerjee shares a good relationship with her. But the point is her name was announced without consulting the Trinamool leadership,” said Abhishek Banerjee.

When asked if Trinamool’s decision will adversely impact the anti-BJP opposition unity in the country, Abhishek Banerjee said that opposition unity is not that fragile and it doesn’t depend on voting in the Presidential or Vice Presidential polls.

“We are abstaining because we did not like the manner in which the name of the opposition candidate was announced without consulting us. But that does not mean that this development will affect the bigger opposition unity,” he said.

IANS

spot_imgspot_img

Related articles

Pak retired cop’s link to spy YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra uncovered

New Delhi, June 7: New details have emerged in the espionage case against Indian YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, with...

IAF to conduct large-scale combat drills near India-Pak border; NOTAM issued

New Delhi, June 7:  India has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for a major Indian Air Force...

Stock market exhibits resilience, RBI’s rate cut icing on the cake

Mumbai, June 7: After starting the week with consolidation, the domestic market exhibited resilience amid concerns over tariff...

Defence Minister Singh reiterates India’s zero tolerance against terrorism, calls on global community to stem menace

New Delhi, June 7: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday asserted India's zero tolerance stance against terrorism and...