The ruling UPA has nominated Vice President Mohd. Hamid Ansari for the second term. The Prime Minister proposed Ansari's name and sought the suggestions of the leaders present. Later, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi Gandhi announced the decision of the UPA to nominate Hamid Ansari for the Vice Presidential polls.
Sonia Gandhi said Mohd Hamid Ansari will complete shortly a term as Vice President of India. He has presided over the Rajya Sabha with dignity and distinction. She said the UPA is honoured to nominate him as its candidate for a second term as Vice President of India.
Home Minister P Chidambaram later said all leaders present at the UPA meeting accepted the candidature of Ansari. He said after the meeting the Prime Minster and Sonia Gandhi rang up Hamid Ansari and offered him the nomination and Congratulated him. Ansari has accepted his nomination.
Chidambaram said ,the Prime Minister also spoke to SP leader Mulayam singh Yadav, BSP leader Mayawati and CPM leader Prakash Karat. Answering a query, the Home Minster said the Prime Minister also spoke to BJP leader L.K.Advani before the meeting.
Asked whether Trinamool Congress representative and Railway Minister Mukul Roy Mukul Roy supported Ansari's candidature, Chidambaram said he also applauded the announcement. But, he said, he will not say anything on his behalf. He said in the course of discussion some names were suggested but the decision was unanimous.
Mukul Roy said they proposed two names — Gopal Krishna Gandhi and Krishna Bose- as candidates for the Vice Presidential election. But as Ansari's name was proposed by the Congress, they will take a decision after consulting with their leadership. Soon after the announcement, the Prime Minster rang up Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee and JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav and sought their support for Hamid Ansari.
BSP supremo Mayawati has announced her party's support to Hamid ansari's candidature. In a statement this evening at Lucknow she said, she has informed the to the Congress President Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Mayawati has said Ansari has performed well in his responsibilities with full dedication and as per decorum of the post.
Union Agriculture Minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar has welcomed the candidature of Hamid Ansari as Vice President of India. He said Ansari's capability has been established beyond doubt in his first tenure as Vice President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha.
LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan has said that his party will support UPA nominees in the coming presidential and vice-presidential elections. If elected, Ansari, will create a record as only the second person in 50 years to get a consecutive term as Vice President after Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan.
In 2007, Ansari was the choice for Vice President when Left parties, which were supporting the UPA-I government from outside, proposed his name and the Congress-led alliance accepted it. He had defeated Najma Heptuallah of BJP in the 2007 election securing 455 votes in an electoral college of 788.
Opposition NDA leaders are scheduled to meet tomorrow to finalise their strategy. NDA has not yet opened its cards on the issue, though the BJP is in favour of a contest. Thirteen persons have filed their nominations till last evening. Papers of two of them have been rejected. 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.
