Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari has said that he accepts the UPA's decision to nominate him for the second term with all humility. Talking to media persons after his name was endorsed at the meeting of UPA partners in New Delhi, he thanked Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandi and the UPA partners who have supported his candidature and for the confidence reposed in him.

The ruling UPA has yesterday nominated Vice President Mohd. Hamid Ansari.

Home Minister P Chidambaram later said all leaders present at the UPA meeting accepted the candidature of Mr. Ansari. He said the Prime Minster and Sonia Gandhi rang up Hamid Ansari after the meeting and offered him the nomination and congratulated him.

Chidambaram said, the Prime Minister also spoke to BJP leader L K Advani, Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam singh Yadav, BSP leader Mayawati and CPM leader Prakash Karat on the issue.

Union Agriculture Minister and NCP Chief Sharad Pawar and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan and BSP supremo Mayawati have also announced their support to Hamid Ansari's candidature. If elected, Ansari will be the second person in 50 years to get a consecutive term as Vice President after Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan. In 2007, he had defeated Najma Heptuallah of the BJP securing 455 votes in an electoral college of 788.

On the other hand, the BJP Core Group which also met in New Delhi yesterday, decided to contest the Vice Presidential Poll. Party General Secretary Ananth Kumar said after the meeting that they will announce their candidate after consulting their allies. He said that a meeting of BJP allies has been convened tomorrow to discuss the issue.

The last day for filing of nominations for the Vice Presidential poll is the 20th of this month, a day after the Presidential poll. Voting is to be held on the 7th of next month.