VP poll: Stage set for direct fight between Ansari, Jaswant

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Stage is set for a direct fight between UPA nominee Hamid Ansari and his NDA counterpart Jaswant Singh for the vice-president's post as their nomination papers were accepted during scrutiny on Saturday.

The nomination papers of 29 others were rejected on various grounds for failing to meet the requirements.

"A total of 42 papers were filed (by 31 candidates) during the 14-day nomination process...four sets of papers submitted by Ansari and three sets submitted by Singh were accepted," Returning Officer for the Vice Presidential election and Lok Sabha Secretary General T.K. Viswanathan said after the scrutiny.

Though the scrutiny took place this morning, four nomination papers were rejected forthwith for failing to comply with the basic requirement of attaching a certified copy of the entry relating to the candidate of the Parliamentary constituency he/she is registered in.

Viswanathan said almost all the candidates, whose papers were rejected, represented that 'honest' people find it difficult to find 20 MPs to propose and as many to second their nomination.

They also complained that the Rs 15,000 security deposit was too steep for them and that the amount should be reduced.

While Ansari, who filed his papers on July 18 filed four sets of nomination papers, Singh filed three. Sunita Chaudhury, a Delhi resident was another candidate to file four sets of papers. But her papers do not have the names of 20 proposer MPs and as many seconder MPs.

The candidates can withdraw their nominations till July 23. The Vice-President is elected through a direct ballot with Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members (including nominated) comprising the electoral college.

A total of 790 MPs are eligible to cast their vote on August 7 to elect the 14th Vice President.