UPA to finalise its vice-prez candidate on Saturday

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The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) is meeting here on Saturday to finalise its candidate for the vice-presidential election.

There are broad indications that the ruling Congress Party is keen on Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari getting a second term.

According to certain reports, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has so far spoken to JDS supremo H.D. Deve Gowda, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, CPM leader Prakash Karat and CPI's A.B. Bardhan, in an endeavor to garner support for Hamid Ansari for a second term as vice president.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary and Railway Minister Mukul Roy will be attending the UPA meeting. West Bengal chief minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee is opposed to Hamid Ansari's second term as the Vice President.

The Samajwadi Party had earlier on Thursday made it clear that it will support the candidate backed by the ruling UPA coalition for the post of vice president of India.

"The Samajwadi Party has been with the UPA for the last 10 years. Our support and understanding can never be with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or any of its allies. So, the Samajwadi Party will fall in line with whatever decision is taken by the UPA coalition," said Samajwadi Party leader Mohan Singh.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Prakash Karat has said the UPA coalition has to take a final call on the vice presidential candidate, but added that the person for the post, should be one having stature and a distinguished background.

Karat, however, said his party would comment on the Vice Presidential candidate only after the ruling alliance comes out with a name.

"As far as the vice presidentship is concerned, the UPA has to decide whom they want to put up for the post. We have told the Prime Minister that we would like to have a person, who does not belong to the Congress Party to be the Vice President who will have stature and who has a distinguished background. So, it is up to them to decide. We will then respond after that," he told the media in Chennai on Thursday.

The last date for nomination for the vice president election, scheduled for August 7, is July 20.

Ansari's term as vice president ends on August 10.