New Delhi: Opposition’s candidate Margaret Alva congratulated Jagdeep Dhankhar after the results of the Vice Presidential elections were announced on Saturday, with the latter winning the polls by a huge margin.
Taking to her Twitter handle, Alva wrote, “Congratulations to Mr Dhankhar on being elected Vice President! I would like to thank all the leaders of the Opposition, and MPs from across parties who voted for me in this election. Also, all the volunteers for their selfless service during our short but intense campaign.”
Congratulations to Mr Dhankhar on being elected Vice President!
I would like to thank all the leaders of the Opposition, and MPs from across parties who voted for me in this election.
Also, all the volunteers for their selfless service during our short but intense campaign.
— Margaret Alva (@alva_margaret) August 6, 2022
She further wrote, “This election was an opportunity for the opposition to work together, to leave the past behind & build trust amongst each other. Unfortunately, some opposition parties chose to directly or indirectly support the BJP, in an attempt to derail the idea of a united opposition,” adding, “It is my belief that by doing so, these parties and their leaders have damaged their own credibility.”
“This election is over. The battle for protecting our Constitution, strengthening our democracy & restoring the dignity of Parliament, will continue,” Alva tweeted.
Notably, Dhankhar will succeed incumbent M Venkaiah Naidu, whose term will end on August 10, to become the 14th Vice President of India. The polling took place in the Parliament building at 10 am on Saturday and concluded at 5 pm with a poll percentage of 90 per cent till 3 pm.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first voters to cast his vote. Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh arrived in a wheelchair to cast his vote for the Vice President election. Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president J P Nadda, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and Commerce Minister and Leader of House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal were among the leaders who turned up early at the Parliament House.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former party chief Rahul Gandhi also cast their ballot post noon.