The Hindu : Front Page : Ansari set to become Vice-President

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Friday, Aug 10, 2007
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Ansari set to become Vice-President

Special Correspondent

Congress says he will poll more than 425 votes

Party managers see little chance for NDA candidate Najma Heptulla
Shiv Sena expected to vote with the BJP; JD(S) may abstain

NEW DELHI: The ruling coalition and Left parties’ nominee for Vice-President, Hamid Ansari, is set to win the three-legged race quite comfortably. Congress managers claimed he would poll over 425 votes in an electoral college with an effective strength of 782.

The college comprises Members of Parliament of both the Houses; currently 538 from the Lok Sabha and 244 from the Rajya Sabha.

With a minimum of 50 per cent of the total votes polled plus one needed by the winner, the winning mark is 392 votes, and the Congress is certain that Mr. Ansari will sail through easily, with votes to spare.

On Wednesday night, the United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi hosted a dinner for all MPs of all the parties supporting Mr. Ansari.

The Left parties and the Bahujan Samaj Party representatives were present signalling that the coalition and supporting parties were solidly behind Mr. Ansari.

Counting on friends

The National Democratic Alliance candidate, Najma Heptulla, is a former deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.

She is counting on her many friends made over six terms in the Upper House to see her through, but her party managers have almost conceded that voting will be along party lines and hence there is little chance, if any, for the NDA nominee.

Dr. Heptulla has sent a letter to almost all the members of Parliament.

The United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) announced at a press conference that all its MPs would cast only one first preference vote – for its candidate Rasheed Masood of the Samajwadi Party.

In fact, party managers of the three major groups – the UPA and the Left; the NDA and the UNPA – have asked their MPs to mark only their first preference vote, leaving the second and third preference blank. They have also tried to educate their members to ensure their vote is not invalidated. In the Presidential election, seven votes of the UPA cast in favour of its candidate were declared invalid.

Low-key affair

The Vice-Presidential election campaign has been a low-key affair. The contrast was all the more visible after the high-pitched Presidential race.

The NDA is apprehensive of a split in its ranks as two of its allies – the Biju Janata Dal and the Trinamool Congress – did not attend the recent meeting to discuss the election.

However, the Shiv Sena, which is yet to declare its support, is expected to vote with the BJP in this election as it seems to be keen to avoid a further drift in its relationship with the BJP.

There are indications that the Janata Dal (Secular), BJP’s coalition partner in Karnataka, might abstain.

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