Opposition's Vice-President Pick Margaret Alva Speaks Of Need For Unity

Margaret Alva said, "The important issue was to get all the opposition together. The need for opposition unity is the most important thing"

Margaret Alva, the opposition candidate for the post of the Vice-President of India told NDTV today that she has agreed to stand for the election as a "concerned citizen" because of the "situation" in the country. "The way institutions of democracy have been undermined, the way parliamentary function has deteriorated, the way things are happening," she added.  

There was also another factor: "The important issue was to get all the opposition together. The need for opposition unity is the most important thing."

Ms Alva, five-time parliamentarian, former Union minister and Governor, has been pitched against former Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar who has been fielded by the NDA.

Asked about her prospects in face of the government's numerical advantage and the possibility of support from parties like the Aam Aadmi Party, Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal and and Trinamool Congress, which have remained non-committal, she said efforts are being made to approach them.