Vice-Presidential polls: Rahul Gandhi reaches out to Nitish Kumar over support to Gopalkrishna Gandhi

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday reportedly reached out to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar seeking his support for Opposition Vice-Presidential pick Gopalkrishna Gandhi.

On Tuesday, eighteen opposition parties chose former West Bengal governor as their joint candidate for vice president. Gandhi's name was endorsed by all 18 opposition parties,  including the JD(U), which had broken ranks with the opposition to back NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind in the presidential election.

Report said that Rahul Gandhi had a conversation with Nitish Kumar on phone, during which the Janata Dal (United) leader confirmed his support for the opposition's candidate.

Though Nitish Kumar didn't attend the meeting of opposition parties, he sent one of the top party leaders Sharad Yadav.

Gandhi was the only name reportedly discussed when opposition parties met on Tuesday to decide on their candidate.

His name earlier had earlier done the rounds as a probable candidate for president, but the opposition chose former speaker Meira Kumar instead to contest against NDA's nominee, Ram Nath Kovind.

"I accept the nomination with all the seriousness that it calls for. I applaud the unity and conviction with which the opposition parties have asked me to be their candidate for the vice presidentship," said Gandhi.

The vice presidential election will take place on August 5 and votes will be counted the same evening.