Dhankhar meets Naidu; outgoing V-P to get farewell on Monday

NEW DELHI: Jagdeep Dhankhar who is set to take oath as the next vice president this week met incumbent M Venkaiah Naidu here on Sunday.

Dhankhar and his wife Sudesh were welcomed at the Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas by Naidu and his spouse Usha Naidu.

The Vice President Secretariat and Dhankhar tweeted pictures of the meeting.

Naidu gifted his successor an 'ang vastram' (stole).

Sources said their meeting lasted over 30 minutes and later Naidu gave a tour of the residence and the secretariat to Dhankhar.

Naidu also introduced Dhankhar to the secretariat staff.

"The Vice President-elect, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, and his spouse, Dr Sudesh Dhankhar, met the Vice President, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu, and his spouse, Smt Usha Naidu, at Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas today," the Vice President Secretariat tweeted.

Naidu congratulated Dhankhar on his election as the 14th Vice President and conveyed his best wishes for a successful tenure, it added.

Naidu's term ends on August 10 and Dhankhar will take oath a day after.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance candidate Dhankhar won with a huge vote share of 74.36 per cent, the highest in the last six vice presidential elections, bagging 528 votes against joint Opposition pick Margaret Alva's 182 votes.

Earlier in the day, the governors of Assam and Rajasthan called on Dhankhar here.

Dhankhar tweeted about his meetings with Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi and Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra and the party's national secretary Sunil Deodhar also called on the vice president-elect.

Naidu will be accorded a farewell in the House on Monday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top leaders in attendance.

Naidu demits office on Wednesday and his successor Jagdeep Dhankhar will take the oath of office on August 11.

There will be no sitting of the House on Tuesday and Thursday on account of Muharram and Raksha Bandhan, sources said.

They added that there will be another farewell function for Naidu at the GMC Balayogi Auditorium on Monday evening on behalf of all the members of the House.

The prime minister will present a memento to Naidu while the deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha will deliver the farewell address, they said.

A publication chronicling the tenure of Naidu as the vice president and chairman of Rajya Sabha will be released by the prime minister.

This will be followed by dinner.

NEW DELHI: Jagdeep Dhankhar who is set to take oath as the next vice president this week met incumbent M Venkaiah Naidu here on Sunday. Dhankhar and his wife Sudesh were welcomed at the Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas by Naidu and his spouse Usha Naidu. The Vice President Secretariat and Dhankhar tweeted pictures of the meeting. Naidu gifted his successor an 'ang vastram' (stole). Sources said their meeting lasted over 30 minutes and later Naidu gave a tour of the residence and the secretariat to Dhankhar. Naidu also introduced Dhankhar to the secretariat staff. "The Vice President-elect, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, and his spouse, Dr Sudesh Dhankhar, met the Vice President, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu, and his spouse, Smt Usha Naidu, at Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas today," the Vice President Secretariat tweeted. Naidu congratulated Dhankhar on his election as the 14th Vice President and conveyed his best wishes for a successful tenure, it added. Naidu's term ends on August 10 and Dhankhar will take oath a day after. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance candidate Dhankhar won with a huge vote share of 74.36 per cent, the highest in the last six vice presidential elections, bagging 528 votes against joint Opposition pick Margaret Alva's 182 votes. Earlier in the day, the governors of Assam and Rajasthan called on Dhankhar here. Dhankhar tweeted about his meetings with Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi and Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra and the party's national secretary Sunil Deodhar also called on the vice president-elect. Naidu will be accorded a farewell in the House on Monday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top leaders in attendance. Naidu demits office on Wednesday and his successor Jagdeep Dhankhar will take the oath of office on August 11. There will be no sitting of the House on Tuesday and Thursday on account of Muharram and Raksha Bandhan, sources said. They added that there will be another farewell function for Naidu at the GMC Balayogi Auditorium on Monday evening on behalf of all the members of the House. The prime minister will present a memento to Naidu while the deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha will deliver the farewell address, they said. A publication chronicling the tenure of Naidu as the vice president and chairman of Rajya Sabha will be released by the prime minister. This will be followed by dinner.