With UPA-Left candidate Hamid Ansari and the NDA?s nominee Najma Heptullah filing nominations for the Vice- Presidential election, the stage is set for an all-Muslim triangular fight to elect the next chairman of the Upper House of Parliament.
The UNPA?s candidate Rashid Masood had already submitted his nomination papers last week for the election to be held on August 10.
Given the numerical strength of the UPA and the Left in both Houses of Parliament, members of which constitute the electoral college, it is almost sure that Ansari will have a smooth ride to succeed the BJP veteran Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who resigned from the post the other day after lost the elections to the post of President. With he BSP also supporting the UPA candidate, Ansari is supposed to grab 425 votes out of the total 788 members.
The UPA-Left combine is in a rejuvenated mood after the victory of Pratibha Patil in the Presidential poll. All top leaders of the ruling combine including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi accompanied Ansari to file the papers before the secretary general of Rajya Sabha, who is also the returning officer for the election. Left leaders including Sitaram Yechury and a number of Union ministers were present at the occasion. ?It is a great occasion,? Ansari said after filing the nomination papers.
The NDA, meanwhile, has the support of only 240 members. The Trinamool Congress and the Shiv Sena are yet to make public their stand on the election.
While the Trinamool Congress abstained from the Presidential poll, the Shiv Sena?s votes were given to Pratibha Patil, thanks to her Maratha identity. The UNPA, which includes eight regional parties, has 81 members in its kitty.
Those who accompanied the NDA candidate include NDA convenor George Fernandes. Akali Dal leader SS Dhindsa and BJD leader in Rajya Sabha BJ Panda of BJD.
However, Shiv Sena and Trinamool Congress representatives were found absent in the function. ?We will seek the support of Shiv Sena as well as Trinamool Congress,? senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj told reporters at Parliament. ?There is a difference between the Presidential and Vice Presidential polls. In the Presidential poll the UNPA had abstained.
But this time it will vote as it has fielded its candidate. Besides, this time there will be second preferential votes, which we will seek,? she said. However, she admitted that the numbers were against NDA.
?This is not a fight. It is an election. Therefore, I have filed nomination,? Heptulla told reporters after filing the nomination papers.
?I will ask support of every member of the electoral college. I feel I am confident enough to handle the job. I have all the qualifications,? she added. When asked whether she is expecting some cross votings in her favour, the veteran leader said: ?It is not correct to use the expression cross-voting. If there is no whip then it is no cross-voting.?