Mahatma grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi Opposition's Vice-President candidate

The 72-year-old Gandhi's name was the only name discussed when 18 opposition parties met on Tuesday

Communist Party of India (Marxist) chief Sitaram Yechury afforded a smile on Tuesday afternoon when 18 Opposition parties, including Trinamool Congress, his party's bitter rival in West Bengal, agreed to the earlier suggestion of the Left parties to field Gopalkrishna Gandhi as their common candidate for the vice-presidential poll.

Earlier, Yechury, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Communist Party of India's D Raja and some others had suggested that Gandhi, a former diplomat, be fielded as the Opposition's presidential candidate. Gopalkrishna Gandhi is the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. C Rajagopalachari, the first governor-general of India and freedom fighter from Tamil Nadu, was