UPA's Vice Presidential candidate Mohammad Hamid Ansari today filed his nomination papers for the August 7 poll in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and leaders of the ruling coalition. 75-year-old Mr. Ansari, who is set to become the second person to get two consecutive terms as Vice-President, filed his four sets of nomination papers before Lok Sabha Secretary General, T K Vishwanathan who is the Returning Officer for the poll. UPA Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Congress MP, Motilal Vora and BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra submitted one set of papers each to Mr. Vishwanathan in support of Mr Ansari's candidature.

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and other leaders of the ruling coalition, were also present. Soon after filing his nomination papers, Mr. Ansari thanked UPA and its partners for supporting his candidature.

The Returning Officer Mr. Vishwanathan has received 31 nominations till today including four sets each of Mr. Hamid Ansari and Ms Sunita Chaudhary. Three nomination papers were rejected as certified copy of the electoral roll entry of candidates, were not attached.

AIR Correspondent reports that Mr Ansari will face a direct contest from NDA nominee Jaswant Singh in the Vice Presidential poll. Mr Singh will file his papers on the 20th of this month, the last date for filing nominations.