Rajnath hails Naidu's candidature, says nobody better suited for VP position

Adding to the praises pouring in for NDA's Vice-Presidential candidate M. Venkaiah Naidu, Home Minister Rajnath Singh while lauding the 'well-deserved' candidate said more than a leader, the former is a 'socio-political activist'.

"There is nobody better suited for this position. There are certain skills that he possesses which make him the best suited for this stature. Venkaiah ji has not only played his role and fulfilled responsibilities as a political worker, but has also doubled them as a socio-political activist. I would like to congratulate him on this feat," Singh told ANI.

Meanwhile, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also expressed his best wishes to Naidu and asserted that he will do justice to the post if given the opportunity.

Earlier in the day, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah announced the name of the Naidu as the NDA's candidate for the post of Vice President

With this, Naidu has been pitted against Opposition's candidate Gopal Krishna Gandhi who had already filed his nominations. Naidu will now file his nomination papers tomorrow.

A prominent leader of the BJP, he has served as its national president from 2002 to 2004.

Both as a student leader and political figure, Naidu gained prominence as a brilliant orator, who vigorously championed the cause of the farmers and the development of backward areas. His oratory skills and political activism propelled his political career and he was elected as an MLA to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly twice from Udayagiri constituency in Nellore district in 1978 and 1983. He rose to become one of the most popular leaders of the BJP in Andhra Pradesh.

After having served in various organisational posts of the BJP at the state and national level, he was elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka in 1998.

He has since been re-elected twice in 2004 and 2010 from Karnataka.