New Delhi, Jul 16, 2022, By Special Correspondent

New Delhi, Jul 16: BJP-led NDA sprang another surprise Saturday, declaring West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar as its vice presidential candidate, days after picking up tribal leader and former Governor Droupadi Murmu as its nominee for Rashtrapti Bhawan.

Making the announcement here, BJP president J P Nadda lauded Dhankhar as a "kisan putra" (farmer's son) who established himself as a "people's governor".

BJP leaders noted that Dhankhar has been in public life for more than three decades, and his life story reflects the spirit of new India: "overcoming innumerable social and economic hurdles and achieving one's goals".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: "Glad Jagdeep Dhankhar will be our V-P candidate; he brings with him illustrious legal, legislative and gubernatorial career. Dhankhar always worked for well-being of farmers, youth, women and marginalised."

Since assuming charge as the governor of West Bengal in July 2019, Dhankhar has been at loggerheads with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led government regularly over various issues. 

He has been in the limelight over frequent run-ins with the Mamata Banerjee government.

A lawyer by profession, Dhankhar forayed into politics in 1989 and was elected to the Lok Sabha from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan that same year and became a Union Minister in 1990.

Dhankar, who practised in Rajasthan High Court and the Supreme Court, was designated a senior advocate in 1990, the year he became a Union minister.

He was also a member of the Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha from 1993 to 1998, representing Kishangarh constituency.

The lawyer-turned politician was appointed governor of West Bengal in July 2019 and has since had a tumultuous relationship with the ruling Trinamool Congress in the state.

The TMC leadership has often accused him of acting as an 'agent of the BJP', while the saffron party in the state looked upon him as an 'upholder of constitutional norms'.

On his part, Dhankar has claimed he has gone by the rule book and the Constitution in pointing out issues to the Mamata Banerjee government and the state legislature.

Acrimony between Dhankhar and the ruling party and its leader often led to messy situations with both levelling accusations at each other over issues ranging from post-poll violence in the state to delays in assent to bills passed in the House besides interference in the functioning of the civilian bureaucracy and state run universities. 

Dhankar who has in the past claimed to be a 'reluctant politician' graduated with honours in physics from Maharaja's College in Jaipur and an LLB degree from Jaipur University in 1978-79.

Before that he had schooled at Sainik School, Chittorgarh on a full merit scholarship after his primary education from the government school at village Kithana in Jhunjhunu, where he was born in 1951. He is married to Sudesh Dhankhar and they have a daughter.