Thursday, July 5, 2012

Ansari denied Second Term, Sonia begins hunt for new Vice President candidate

Tribal Affairs Minister V Kishore Chandra Deo and Corporate Affairs Minister Veerappa Moily have emerged front-runners for the post of Vice President of India. Though names of Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Governors Margret Alva and Shivraj Patil and senior congress leaders Saifuddin Soz and  Mohsina Kidwai are also being mentioned for the post.

But V Kishore Chandra Deo is a tribal and commands respect not only within the Congress but also amongst the entire political spectrum. Same goes with Veerappa Moily who hails from Karnataka and a backward. Moily’s name had figured even  during 2007 for the post. But Dr Hamid Ansari was brought in at the last minute as the Left parties insisted for him. 

It is almost certain that Dr Hamid Ansari will not be re-nominated for the post. There is also a likelihood that member of the minority community may not figure either due to other political compulsions. It is argued that with P A Sangma flaunting his tribal card in presidential campaign, Deo’s candidature may puncture it. A five time Lok Sabha MP Kishore Chandra Deo is understood to have also had a brief meeting with Sonia Gandhi recently.

But no one is sure what Sonia Gandhi would do.  Highly placed sources in the Congress say that Sonia Gandhi will discuss the issue with senior leaders once the Election Commission issues a formal notification.

The UPA is in a far more comfortable position in the vice presidential poll as it has clear majority in the electoral college comprising of  790 MPs of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The UPA’s combined strength in both houses will touch 400 mark and with SP, BSP and other non-NDA parties supporting, its nominee will get more than 460 votes.  The Congress managers are of the firm view that even Trinamool Congress will remain part of the UPA in the President’s and Vice Presidential election irrespective of the political differences.

 The Vice Presidential election is due on August 7. The last date of nomination has been fixed for July 20 and voting will be on August 7.   
The Vice-Presidential election requires 20 MPs as proposers and an equal number as seconders. The Electoral College for the present election of the Vice-President consists of  245 from the Rajya Sabha including 12 nominated and 545 from the Lok Sabha including two nominated.