Above: Apart from being the grandson of Gandhi, Gopalkrishna is a seasoned diplomat, a politician and an academician. Photo: YouTube
The Opposition has chosen Gopalkrishna Gandhi as its candidate for Vice-President. The NDA is yet to announce its choice. Apart from being the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, he has been a seasoned diplomat, a politician and an academician. He is possibly one person today who does not need to be introduced through lineage. Even his maternal lineage is extraordinary, with his grandfather at that end being C Rajagopalachari.
He is also the former governor of West Bengal.
This 71-year-old is one candidate the NDA might find tough to put up a candidate against.
He was a 1968 batch IAS officer and as governor oversaw the complete decimation in West Bengal of the Left Front after a 34-year rule. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has hailed the selection of Gandhi as candidate.
Gandhi was educated at St Stephen’s College before joining the IAS. Between 1985 and 1987, he was the secretary of the Vice-President of India. He was also the joint secretary to the President of India.
He has been high commissioner of India to South Africa and Lesotho, high commissioner of India in Sri Lanka and the Ambassador of India to Norway and Iceland.
—India Legal Bureau