Seventeen Opposition parties on Sunday picked Congress veteran Margaret Alva as their joint candidate for Vice-President.

The 80-year-old is a former Union minister with rich parliamentary and administrative experience, far more than NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar’s. Her chances of victory are, however, slim.

NCP veteran Sharad Pawar announced Alva’s name after a meeting of 17 parties at his home.

The Trinamul Congress was not represented at the meeting.

The members of both Houses of Parliament elect the Vice-President. While the NDA’s strength is 449, the Opposition’s combined strength will not cross 325.