NEW DELHI, July 14: Incumbent Hamid Ansari was today named UPA’s candidate for the Vice Presidential poll in which he is set to get a second consecutive term even though ruling coalition ally Trinamool Congress remained non-committal on support.
The name of the 75-year-old Ansari was announced by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi at a meeting of the Congress-led coalition at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s residence here.
A career diplomat, Ansari was the only choice of the UPA which was approved at the meeting, also attended by Trinamool Congress representative and Railway Minister Mukul Roy.
Roy, whose party had opposed Pranab Mukherjee’s candidature for President’s post last month, suggested the names of former West Bengal Governor Gopal krishna Gandhi and former MP Krishna Bose. Another UPA constituent VCK of Tamil Nadu suggested a Christian candidate.
These suggestions were ignored by the UPA Chairperson as also the Prime Minister.
“Mohd Hamid Ansari will complete shortly a term as Vice President of India. He has presided over the Rajya Sabha with dignity and distinction. The UPA is honoured to nominate him as its candidate for a second term as Vice President of India,” Gandhi said in her brief statement.
Later, Home Minister P Chidambaram said Roy had “applauded” the announcement of Ansari’s candidature.
However, Roy contradicted him at a separate press meet when he made it clear that he had given no commitment of support and the party’s position will be decided by its chief Mamata Banerjee.
Ansari’s candidature for the August 7 poll was immediately supported by Samajwadi Party and BSP.
The electoral college for the Vice Presidential poll comprises 790 MPs of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. As per the support committed so far, Ansari is expected to get 423, substantially higher than the required 395.
This is except the Trinamool Congress.
In the last election, Ansari had polled 455 votes against 222 for Najma Heptullah fielded by NDA. Rashid Masood of the now defunct United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) had got 75 votes.
At that time, Ansari’s candidature was floated by the Left parties, which were key outside supporters of the UPA.
At the UPA meeting today, the Prime Minister proposed Ansari’s name and sought the suggestions of the leaders present. Later Gandhi made the announcement.
Chidambaram said “all leaders” present at the UPA meeting “accepted” the candidature of Ansari.
Asked whether Mukul Roy supported Ansari’s candidature, he said he “applauded” the announcement.
Roy, however, had a different line as he made it clear that he had not supported Ansari’s candidature.
“As the agenda of this meeting was not known to us, we proposed two names—that of Gopal Krishna Gandhi and Krishna Bose—as candidates for the Vice Presidential election. But as Ansari’s name was proposed by the Congress, we said we will take a decision after consulting with our leadership,” he told reporters.
“I will convey today’s decision to our party leadership and we will let you know our decision soon,” he said.
Singh and Gandhi met Ansari and congratulated him.
Accepting the decision in “all humility”, Ansari thanked all political parties who supported his name and “reposed in me for shouldering once again the responsibility of this high office.
The Prime Minister also spoke to Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati and both welcomed the UPA decision, Chidambaram said.
Singh also spoke to CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat.
Chidambaram said Singh also talked to BJP leader L K Advani before the meeting to indicate that there was “overwhelming” support for Ansari’s candidature.
Mayawati and some Left leaders called Ansari to congratulate him. (PTI)
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