New Delhi: The UPA on Saturday decided for a second term for Hamid Ansari as the Vice President. UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi declared Ansari\u2019s name for the penultimate post. Ansari thankful for candidature, UPA says decision to field him \u201cunanimous\u201dInteracting with mediapersons shortly after being announced as the UPA\u2019s candidate, Ansari thanked Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and coalition partners for considering him for a second term at the high office.
\n\u201cSo rare an honour can only be accepted in all humility,\u201d Ansari said, before thanking the Dr. Singh, Sonia Gandhi and all the parties that supported his candidature.
\nSpeaking on the occasion, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said that Ansari\u2019s candidature was a \u201cunanimous\u201d coalition decision, \u201cin view of the dignity and distinction with which he (Ansari) conducted and presided over the Rajya Sabha in the first term.\u201d
\nOn being quizzed about the Trinamool Congress\u2019 (TMC) alleged displeasure over Ansari\u2019s candidature, Bansal reiterated that it was a unanimous decision.
\nThe last date for nomination for the Vice President election, scheduled for August 7, is July 20.Ansari’s term as Vice President ends on August 10. (ANI) Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh met UPA\u2019s Vice Presidential candidate Mohammed Hamid Ansari at his residence, here on Saturday.
\nThe Samajwadi party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj party (BSP) extended their support to Ansari\u2019s candidature, with the BSP chief Mayawati reportedly calling up Ansari to express support while SP issuing a statement to that effect.
\nThe Trinamool Congress (TMC), allegedly unhappy with the UPA\u2019s choice, has reserved its opinion on Ansari\u2019s candidature, with Railway Minister Mukul Roy saying that the party would decide over the issue \u201clater.\u201d<\/p>\n\n