New Delhi, Aug. 16 -- The upcoming Vice Presidential election is shaping up to be an intriguing political contest, with both the ruling NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc set to announce their candidates in the coming days. While the BJP has convened a parliamentary party meeting today, the opposition will hold its strategy session a day later, on Monday.

According to indications from the BJP, the party is likely to put forward a candidate with a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) background. However, the crucial question is whether the nominee will belong to a forward caste or a backward community.

On the opposition side, it is almost certain that the Congress will announce the candidate on behalf of the INDI Alliance. What remains to be...