The Opposition’s vice-presidential candidate Gopalkrishna Gandhi has written to Rajya Sabha TV seeking a panel discussion with the National Democratic Alliance’s candidate M. Venkaiah Naidu on the role of the Vice-President and their respective visions for India.
Informed choice
This would, the letter said, not just enable members of Parliament — the electors for the vice-presidential poll — make an informed choice but also benefit viewers.
“I request that the RSTV arranges for a panel discussion — a discussion, not a ‘debate’ — between the two contestants in the ensuing election for the position of the Vice-President of India and, inter alia, Chairman of Rajya Sabha,” Mr. Gandhi wrote.
“My suggestion is that the Hon’ble Venkaiah Naidugaru and I have a discussion on RSTV, anchored by anyone of RSTV’s choice...,”
Above politics
He added, “The discussion should, by mutual understanding, be kept completely above party politics and personalities. Such a pre-recorded discussion conducted with mutual respect and in the frankest friendship, will be of great help to the Hon’ble Members of Parliament in the formulation of their choice for the election slated for August 5, 2017. It will also be, needless to say, of great interest to the public at large.”
1987 suggestion
In 1987, Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer, a candidate for the presidential election, had suggested that R. Venkataraman, the Congress’ candidate, he, and the third candidate, Mithilesh Kumar Sinha, have a televised interview on Doordarshan and AIR, to explain their respective viewpoints.
However, the request had been turned down by the then government.
