TMC's decision to skip VP poll disappointing: Margaret Alva

New Delhi/ Kolkata: Opposition's vice-presidential candidate Margaret Alva on Friday described the Trinamool Congress' decision to abstain from voting in the VP election as "disappointing" and said this was not the time for "whataboutery, ego or anger".

Alva's reaction came a day after the TMC announced it would abstain from the upcoming vice-presidential election, as it does not agree with the way the Opposition candidate was decided without keeping the party in the loop. In response, the Mamata Banerjee-led party said it has nothing against Alva as a candidate and will never support NDA nominee Jagdeep Dhankhar, but has taken a 'principled strand' of abstaining to protest against the way her name was 'unilaterally' decided by other opposition parties.

"The TMC's decision to abstain from voting in the VP election is disappointing. This isn't the time for 'whataboutery', ego or anger. This is the time for courage, leadership & unity. I believe, @MamataOfficial, who is the epitome of courage, will stand with the opposition," Alva said in a Twitter post.