By Our Special Correspondent
Opposition candidate Margaret Alva filed her nomination for the vice-presidential election on Tuesday, after which she said victory and defeat are a part of life, upholding the pillars of democracy, strengthening institutions and the opposition's fight for India. It belongs to "each of us."
Elections will be held on August 6 to elect a successor to the post of Vice President Venkaiah Naidu whose term ends on August 10.
Alva was accompanied by senior opposition leaders during the filing of the nomination. Among them are Congress's Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary, NCP leader Sharad Pawar, CPM's Sitaram Yechury, DMK's Tiruchi Siva, CPI's D Raja, RJD's Manoj Jha, Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut, Samajwadi Party's Ram Gopal Yadav and Vam Kopal Yadav. There is RSP's N K Premachandran.
"It will be a tough election without a doubt, but I am not afraid to take up the challenge," she said on Monday, thanking opposition parties for supporting her candidacy.
Alva, 80, is contesting against NDA's Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned as West Bengal governor after being nominated on Saturday evening.
"In these 50 years, I have served my country with integrity, courage and commitment, my sole responsibility: to serve fearlessly, the Constitution of India," she said.
She said the joint support of opposition parties to support her candidature was a metaphor for India's reality.
"I have spent my life fulfilling my commitments with integrity and courage. Elections do not scare me - winning and losing is a part of life.
Former Rajasthan Governor and senior Congress leader Alva was unanimously elected as the joint opposition candidate for the post of Vice President.
All MPs of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including nominated members, constitute the Electoral College for the election of the Vice President.
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