Ending speculations on possible support to the Left?s choice for Vice-President, the UNPA on Monday announced the name of their candidate. Veteran SP leader Rasheed Masood was the ?unanimous? choice, which, according to the alliance, would have a long-standing impact on Indian politics. However, the UNPA leaders indicated that they would try for a consensus over the Masood?s candidature among non-Congress and non-BJP parties.
?Masood has excellent credentials. He has been an MP
several times, as well as a Cabinet minister. He is a veteran politician and his credentials are definitely better than those of Pratibha Patil?s,? SP general secretary Amar Singh told reporters in Mumbai. The 59-year-old is a five-time MP from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh.
Thanking the UNPA,Masood said: ?My campaign would be different from that of the NDA and the UPA in the presidential elections.? Masood was confident that his name would be acceptable by other parties as well. ?I have good relations with the Left and I would request colleagues from my state to vote for me,? Masood told FE.
?All the main constituents of UNPA, including Jayalalitha, N Chandrababu Naidu, Babulal Marandi and others will be present when Masood files his papers,? Amar Singh added. Singh said the UNPA was not interested in talks with the BJP and the Congress over the issue. ?We have not asked them for their support. We have opposed the candidature of Pratibha Patil and nothing will change in the vice-presidential elections.?