NEW DELHI, July 18 (Xinhua) -- India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) vice presidential candidate M. Venkaiah Naidu Tuesday filed his nomination papers to contest the upcoming poll slated for August 5.
Naidu, who late Monday night resigned as the country's Urban Development and Information and Broadcasting Minister, will face united opposition's candidate Gopal Krisha Gandhi in the race.
The BJP announced 68-year-old Naidu's name as the ruling National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) vice presidential contender Monday night, after a meeting of top party leaders in the national capital.
Soon after the announcement, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he had known the politician for years and had "always admired his hard work and tenacity."
"A farmer's son, Venkaiah Naidu Garu brings years of experience in public life and is admired across the political spectrum," Modi tweeted.
Naidu, who served as BJP chief from 2002 to 2004, is likely to take over from Hamid Ansari, whose two five-year terms as Vice President, will end in August this year.
