UPA convenes meet to decide V-P candidate

A meeting of the UPA has been convened here on July 14 to decide on the Vice Presidential candidate amid signals that a second term for Hamid Ansari.

New Delhi: A meeting of the UPA has been convened here on July 14 to decide on the Vice Presidential candidate amid signals that a second term for incumbent Hamid Ansari is a possibility.

The meeting assumes significance as Trinamool Congress, which has not yet announced support to Pranab Mukherjee`s candidature in the Presidential election, will take part in the deliberations of the top brass of the ruling alliance.

Reports from Kolkata said Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee has directed Railway Minister Mukul Roy to attend the UPA meeting.

"It will be after a long gap that Trinamool Congress will be attending a UPA meeting, which is a significant development," Kunal Ghosh, a Rajya Sabha member of Trinamool Congress, said.

Trinamool Congress had earlier said that Mamata would announce the party`s decision on the Presidential poll three days ahead of the election.
Congress is giving broad hints that Ansari is a frontrunner in the Vice Presidential race. His name appears to have the support of various other parties also. The last date for nomination for the Vice President election, scheduled for August 7, is July 20.

Congress is also hopeful of NDA ally JD-U`s support for Ansari`s candidature.

Sources in JD-U said there is a strong possibility that the party could support the UPA candidate.

"We had already said that Hamid Ansari and Pranab Mukherjee both are good names for Presidential elections. Now, how can we say that Ansari was good for becoming President but not good for becoming Vice President? Logic says we should support Ansari," a party MP said requesting anonymity.

There is a view in JD-U that UPA has the majority to ensure the victory of its Vice Presidential nominee.
PTI

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