The ruling UPA has nominated Vice President Mohd. Hamid Ansari for the second term. The Prime Minister proposed Ansari's name at the UPA meeting held in New Delhi and sought suggestions from the leaders present. After the discussions, the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi announced the decision of the UPA to nominate Hamid Ansari for the Vice Presidential polls.
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. Ansari has accepted the nomination. 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.
Trinamool Congress representative Mukul Roy said they proposed two names, Gopal Krishna Gandhi and the Congress proposed Krishna Bose as candidates for the Vice Presidential election but as Ansari’s name, they will take a final decision after consulting their leadership. 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. Opposition NDA leaders are scheduled to meet today to finalise their strategy.
The last day for filing of nominations is the 20th of this month, a day after the Presidential poll. Voting is to be held on the 7th of next month.
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.
Meanwhile, the BJP Core Group met in New Delhi yesterday and decided to contest the Vice Presidential Poll. A meeting of BJP allies has been convened tomorrow to discuss the issue. Party General Secretary Ananth Kumar said after the meeting that they will announce their candidate after consulting their allies.
