UPA vice-presidential candidate and current incumbent Hamid Ansari filed his nomination papers for the August 7 election on Wednesday.
And the filing of the papers by the diplomat-scholar took place in the presence of Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, NCP chief and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Power as well as leaders of political allies-- Mulayam Singh Yadav(SP) and Satish Chandra Mishra (BSP).
NCP leaders Praful Patel and DP Tripathi, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, RLD chief Ajit Singh, DMK leader TR Baalu, RJD president Lalu Yadav and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi were also among those present on the occasion.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh filed the first set of nomination papers on Ansari’s behalf to Lok Sabha Secretary General TK Vishwanathan, who is the returning officer for the vice-presidential election. Besides, three sets of nomination papers were filed on behalf of Ansari by Mulayam Singh, Satish Chandra Mishra and veteran Congressman Motilal Vora. The nomination papers were signed by all the leaders of the UPA allies except the Trinamool Congress.
Unlike the UPA’s presidential contender Pranab Mukherjee, Ansari’s candidature is not backed by the Opposition JD(U) and the Shiv Sena.
Although the Trinamool Congress had belatedly announced its support for Pranab, the party is yet to announce its decision on Ansari.
And TMC representatives were absent when Ansari filed his nomination papers.
Ansari thanked the leaders of the political parties for extending their support. “I am very grateful to all the leaders who have come here to attend this function for supporting my nomination and for sponsoring me.”
The Prime Minister, meanwhile, said,”We are all very delighted that there is such a massive support for re-nomination of Hamid Ansari for the august office of Vice President”.