Jagdeep
Dhankhar, the governor of West Bengal, has been chosen by the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) as its vice-presidential nominee. Dhankhar, 71, enjoys the support of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and other members of the Sangh
Parivar. A lawyer by training, Dhankhar has reportedly often helped members of
the Sangh Parivar in matters related to both politics and legality. He has also
headed the BJP’s legal affairs department.

Dhankar
often makes the national news for his public wrangles with West Bengal Chief
Minister Mamata Banerjee. Banerjee has consistently tried to trim Dhankar’s
feathers by pointing to the limited role and powers of the governor. Dhankhar,
on the other hand, has been a consistent critic of the Trinamool Congress and
has often caused the government significant discomfort.

For the
BJP, Dhankhar is a solid vice-presidential choice. Dhankhar comes from Rajasthan’s Jat community, a politically
significant constituency for the BJP. The fact that he is from an “upper caste”
has also had a role to play.

Several
leaders from the Parivar have conveyed to the party leaders that it’s time for
the party to pitch for an agada (member of a forward caste), The
Indian Express reported quoting sources. This is significant at a time when Droupadi Murmu has been
nominated by the BJP as its presidential candidate. If Murmu indeed does become
president, she will be India’s first Adivasi president.

Sources
close to the developments, who spoke to the Indian Express, said the party was
becoming increasingly aware of some discomfiture within Brahmin supporters of
the party. Some, reportedly, have even publicly stated their displeasure. A
crucial section of the BJP was reportedly unhappy with the party’s decision to
leave the Maharashtra CM post to Eknath Shinde instead of giving it to Devendra
Fadnavis, a Brahmin leader of the party.

Fighting against Dhankhar is the opposition’s Margaret Alva. A former Congresswoman, Alva has been a Union Minister as well as served as governor for Uttarakhand and Rajasthan.