Trinamool to abstain from Vice President elections

New Delhi: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) informed that it would not vote in the Vice President election. Bihar Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar is fielded by BJP in the Vice President election, which is to be held on August 6, NDTV reports.

TMC MP and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee said that the party had unanimously decided not to support either Dhankhar or Margaret Alva, the Congress' candidate for the Vice President.

He told reporters that the question of supporting the NDA (BJP-led National Democratic Alliance) candidate does not even arise. The opposition candidate was decided without proper consultation and deliberation with TMC, which has 35 MPs in both Houses of Parliament, he said, adding that they have unanimously decided to abstain from the voting process.

The TMC's strong move comes days past a meeting in Darjeeling where Mamata Banerjee, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Dhankhar met.

According to sources, Dhankar asked Mamata Banerjee to support him.

However, if Dhankar is elected to Vice President's chair, it will be a boon for Mamata Banerjee in Bengal. The Bengal CM and Governor Dhankar have been in close conflict for the past three years. The former had accused the latter of targeting her and her government at the behest of the BJP-led Centre.

Abhishek Banerjee told reporters that the opposition candidate was decided without their consultation and a senior leader contacted Mamata Banerjee only after the meeting.