President Pranab Mukherjee will demit office on July 25 and a search for his successor has begun. The new Vice president also needs to be appointed by August 2017.
Former Nagaland Chief Minister and present Odisha Governor SC Jamir’s name is doing the rounds as one of the probables for the next Vice President of India.
SC Jamir is the only UPA-era Governor to have survived the NDA regime and his election may send a strong message to the North Eastern States.
Other frontrunners for the Vice President’s post include Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu and his Maharashtra counterpart Ch. Vidyasagar Rao
“There is a long way to go yet, and many other names will, I am sure, be added to this list,” said a source.
Meanwhile, as per some reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proposed the name of veteran BJP leader LK Advani to replace Pranab Mukherjee to be the next President of India. This was revealed by Modi during a party meeting in Gujarat’s Somnath. Notably, LK Advani, BJP national president Amit Shah and Keshubhai Patel were also present at the meeting. (With inputs from agencies)