As BJP meets on VP nominee, Venkaiah says not aspiring to become anything

New Delhi: After a heated presidential poll on Monday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentary board will meet in Delhi at 6 pm to decide on NDA's vice presidential candidate.

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu is speculated to be BJP's candidate for vice presidential poll.

However, talking to media, Naidu said, "All other things are only speculations. Whatever Parliamentary Board decides is final." “I'm not aspiring to become anything, party finally decides about the candidature,” he added.

Earlier as well, Naidu had gone on record, indicating his reluctance to take up the job, quipping that he wanted to remain “Usha Pati” (husband of Usha, the name of his wife) and not become Upa-Rashtrapati (Vice-President).

There is speculation that BJP may pick a candidate from a region where it has been traditionally weak so as to send out a positive message. Party's chief Amit Shah has identified states like Kerala, Telangana and West Bengal as the new growth region for the party.

As was the case with its presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind, a Dalit seen as a surprise pick, the party might go for a face that will help it politically.

Apart from Venkaiah Naidu, names of Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao and party's Kerala MLA O Rajagopal are being mentioned as probables.

An alliance of 18 opposition parties, including the Congress, has already announced Gopalkrishna Gandhi as its candidate for vice presidential poll scheduled for August 5.

Tuesday is the last date for filing of nominations. The electoral college for the election consists of 790 MPs of the two chambers of Parliament.

The ruling bloc enjoys an overwhelming majority in the electoral college and BJP has expressed confidence about garnering anywhere between 500 and 550 votes.