UPA-Left fields Ansari for VP,Masood files nomination as UNPA choi

New Delhi, July 20 (UNI) The UPA-Left today announced it would field former diplomat Mohammad Hamid Ansari as its candidate for the August 10 elections for the post of Vice-President.

The name of Mr Ansari, currently Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, was announced by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi here this evening after a meeting of the UPA-Left Coordination Committee.

''All of us have come to a unanimous understanding that Mr Ansari will be our candidate,'' she told waiting newspersons.

''He has an excellent record in serving the nation in many capacities, including as a civil servant and diplomat, as an academic and in his current position,'' Ms Gandhi said.

''We are confident that his nomination would be widely welcomed and we appeal to all other political parties to support his nomination,'' she added.

Reacting to his nomination, Mr Ansari told UNI he had heard the statement made by Ms Gandhi. ''I am humbled by the confidence reposed in me,'' he said.

Mr Ansari, 70, has had a distinguished diplomatic career, having served as India's envoy to Saudi Arabia (twice), Iran, Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates and Australia. He has also served as the country's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechuri told UNI that the name of Mr Ansari was proposed to Ms Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday.

They then held consultations with the UPA partners and the supporting parties like the BSP before it was formally approved at the Coordination Committee meeting held at Mr Singh's official 7, Race Course Road residence.

He said the hour-long meeting did not discuss any other name after Railway Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad appealed to the meeting not to prolong the discussion and urged Ms Gandhi to announce the name of Mr Ansari.

"All those present in the meeting unanimously accepted Mr Ansari... He was the unanimous choice of all," Mr Yechury said.

The CPI(M) leader made it clear that Mr Ansari was essentially a UPA candidate, supported by the Left and other parties.

Those who attended today's meeting included Dr Singh, senior Congress leaders Pranab Mukherjee, Arjun Singh and Shivraj Patil, DMK's T R Baalu and LJP Chief Ram Vilas Paswan. The Left was represented by CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat, Mr Yechury, CPI's A B Bardhan and D Raja and RSP leader Abani Roy.

Forward Bloc General secretary Debabrata Biswas could not attend the meeting as he was in Bhubaneshwar in connection with a party function.

Television channels were allowed to cover live the deliberations of the meeting.

Meanwhile, United Nationalist Progressive Alliance (UNPA) candidate Rashid Masood filed his papers today, taking the total number of nominations so far filed to 16.

The principal opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has yet to announce its candidate. The last date for filing nominations is Monday, July 23.

The Vice President, who is also the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, is elected by an electoral college comprising all the members of the two houses of Parliament. This includes 545 members of the Lok Sabha and the 245 members of the Rajya Sabha.

The term of incumbent Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who contested yesterday's presidential poll as an NDA-backed Independent candidate, ends on August 18.

UNI