If at all there are any last minute hopes of senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu to be retained as the Vice-President of India for a second term, they were completely dashed on Wednesday.
Union minister for minorities affairs Mukthar Abbas Naqvi on Wednesday resigned from the Narendra Modi cabinet on Wednesday amidst speculation that he might be nominated as the NDA candidate for the Vice President of India post.
Naqvi’s term in Rajya Sabha would come to an end on Thursday and the BJP leadership has not nominated him to the Upper House again, leading to the speculation to that he might be the candidate for Presidential candidate.
Soon after resigning from the minister after the cabinet meeting, Naqvi went to the BJP headquarters and met party president J P Nadda.
He might also tender his resignation from the party, so that he could file his nomination for the Vice President post.
This has put an end to all speculations that Venkaiah would be given extension for a second term.
Yet, a section of media and die-hard fans of Venkaiah do not seem to have lost hope. They are floating a theory that Naqvi might be made Governor of state or a Lieutenant Governor of a Union territory.
They point out that it was not just Naqvi, but another Union minister of steel R C P Singh also resigned from the Central cabinet on Wednesday.
“So, it may not be correct to link Naqvi’s resignation with the Vice Presidential elections,” they say.
The names of two other leaders – Kerala governor Arif Mohammad Khan and Karnataka governor Thawar Chand Gehlot are also said be in race for the Vice Presidential post. But going by the developments, Naqvi has the bright chances, sources said.