By naming former Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson Najma Heptullah as its candidate for the August 10 Vice Presidential polls, Opposition alliance NDA has turned the contest into an all-Muslim affair, with a difference that it might play the woman card this time around.
The decision to this effect was taken on Sunday at a meeting of the NDA leaders held here this evening at former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee?s residence. Making the announcement, senior BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj and Vijay Kumar Malhotra said Heptullah would file her nomination papers tomorrow.
The leaders of the alliance, who were present at the meeting included convener George Fernandes, Janata Dal (U) leader Sharad Yadav, BJP President Rajnath Singh, Shiromani Akali Dal?s SS Dhindsa and BJ Panda of the Biju Janata Dal. Heptullah, a former Congress leader switched loyalty to the BJP in 2004.The BJP-led NDA, it may be recalled, wants to neutralise the women?s empowerment campaign of theCongress, which had named former Rajasthan governor Pratibha Patil, as the ruling alliance?s nominee for the presidency.