Margaret Alva is opposition’s vice-presidential candidate; Has support of 19 parties, says Sharad Pawar

NEW DELHI: Former union minister and Congress leader Margaret Alva has been declared as the opposition’s candidate for the vice-presidential election. The decision was taken at an all-party meet, on Sunday. “The Opposition candidate for the post of Vice President of India will be Margaret Alva”, said NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

Alva, who has served as the governor of Goa, Gujarat and Uttarakhand, was born on April 14, 1942, in Karnataka’s Mangalore. After the death of her mother-in-law Violet Alva in 1969, Margaret Alva started active participation in Congress activities in Karnataka. She became a member of Rajya Sabha in 1974 and a union minister in 1984. She was elected to the Lok Sabha from Uttara Kannada in 1999.

Alva was declared the vice-presidential candidate unanimously by around 17 opposition parties. However, Sharad Pawar said that she has the support of 19 parties, including the Trinamool Congress. The meeting called by Sharad Pawar, on Sunday was also attended by those parties, who had earlier declared support for NDA's presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar is NDA’s vice-presidential candidate.

Nominations for the vice-presidential poll can be filed till July 9. The nominations can be withdrawn till July 21. The election will take place on August 6.