With the presidential and vice-presidential elections due in a few months, the Congress has informally started discussing the possibility of fielding three-time Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi for the vice-presidency with its UPA allies.
UPA sources confirmed Mr Gogoi’s name had come up in discussions with the Congress leadership, and said the CM could be put forward as a consensus UPA candidate.
Asked about the presidential nominee, a source said: “They (Congress) haven’t come with any name or proposal so far. Perhaps they will do it after the Uttar Pradesh election results.”
If Mr Gogoi is chosen and elected, he will become the first person from the Northeast to occupy the country’s second highest constitutional position. The term of incumbent vice-president Hamid Ansari ends on August 10.
The Assam strongman, associated for decades with the Congress, has been a member of the Lok Sabha six times. He also served as a minister at the Centre in the P.V. Narasimha Rao government, and has held several important party posts.