Opposition vice-presidential candidate Margaret Alva is contacting chief ministers of various states as part of her campaign to garner support.
One of them was Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma – which, however, prompted a Twitter exchange between the two.
Earlier today, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted, “Mrs. @alva_margaret took over the charge of his campaign office at 1, Pt Ravishankar Shukla Lane today. He spoke to CM Assam, CM Karnataka and CM Delhi as part of his Vice Presidential campaign. The talks were very cordial and friendly given his long political career and affiliations. ,
mrs @alva_margaret Today one Pt. Ravi Shankar took charge of his campaign office in Shukla Lane. He spoke to CM Assam, CM Karnataka and CM Delhi as part of his Vice Presidential campaign. The talks were very cordial and friendly given his long political career and affiliations.
— jairam ramesh (@jairam_ramesh) 24 July 2022
However, Assam CM Sarma replied to Ramesh’s tweet saying that he had spoken to him saying that he had no role in the election of the VP. “Mrs. @alva_margaret spoke to me this morning. I politely told her that I am not a member of the Electoral College. Therefore I have no role in the election of the Vice President of India.”
mrs @alva_margaret Spoke to me this morning. I politely told him that I am not a member of the Electoral College. Therefore, I have no role in the election of the Vice President of India. https://t.co/u8WX6vbpKY
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) 24 July 2022
On this, Alva retweeted a tweet. “As part of my campaign for VP, I am reaching out to leaders of all political parties. Mr Sarma is an old friend and we have worked together for a long time to get to know him after 30 years. In Parliament, I know what an electoral college is. We had a good conversation though!”
As part of my campaign for VP, I am reaching out to leaders of various political parties. Mr Sarma is an old friend and we have worked together for a long time to get to know him after 30 years. In Parliament, I know what an electoral college is. We had a good conversation though! https://t.co/LZ8ogBWEpT
— Margaret Alva (@alva_margaret) 24 July 2022
She further told ANI, “The basis for seeking votes from everyone is that I am a woman and the first woman candidate for the post of Vice President before the country, so everyone should support me.”
Former governor and veteran Congress leader Alva has also sought the support of the CM of West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. An Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) statement said that on Saturday, he met Kejriwal to seek support for his candidature, and the meeting ended “with both the leaders expressing mutual respect and acceptance”.
Despite the numbers not turning in her favour, Alva said in an interview with PTI that she is hardly upset and feels that the numbers can always swing. “We cannot sit comfortably and say that we do not have the numbers, so we will not contest the elections,” he said.
The Vice Presidential elections are to be held on 6 August.
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