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India On Media |
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| Politics
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| Vice President poll: |
| Vice President poll: NDA picks Jaswant Singh, Mamata Banerjee may back Hamid Ansari
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| INDIA
, 16-July-2012
3:14:14 AM |
| The BJP-led NDA has named senior party leader and Former Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh as its vice-presidential candidate. The decision came after a meeting of party leaders at the home of LK Advani to decide on its candidate that it would field against the UPA's nominee for Vice President, Hamid Ansari.
"It is a matter of great respect that the NDA has chosen me," Mr Singh said at a press conference today where his candidacy was announced.
Mr Advani said that the alliance of opposition parties wanted Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav to run for the post but he was not keen.
The NDA is fielding a candidate despite Mr Ansari looking comfortable on numbers because it wants to record the fact that it does not favour a second term for the Vice President. The party is still upset with Mr Ansari for the way he conducted the Lokpal debate in an extended Winter session of Parliament late last year.
Mr Ansari's candidacy was announced by the UPA on Saturday after a meeting of all its allies. All of them, save Mamata Banerjee, have pledged support to him as have parties like Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party and Maywati's BSP. Even without Ms Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, which has said it is yet to decide, the Congress and its allies have 444 MPs, much more than the 396 votes they need to get Mr Ansari that second term as Vice President.
Ms Banerjee's party had opposed Mr Ansari's candidacy at the UPA meeting on Saturday, suggesting two other names, but sources say she might come around to supporting the Congress for the Vice Presidential election at least. Her close aide and Rail Minister Mr Mukul Roy, who attended the meeting said Ms Banerjee would decide. Sources have told NDTV that hectic back-channel talks are underway to get Ms Banerjee to come on board vis-a-vis Mr Ansari's candidature. Ms Banerjee has resolutely refused to back Mr Mukherjee for President; three days before that election, she is yet to say who she supports
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