INDIA: Vice President Files Nomination Papers for Second Term in Office

Mohd. Hamid Ansari filing the nomination papers for the

Vice Presidential Election, in the presence of the Prime Minister,

Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Chairperson, National Advisory Council,

Smt. Sonia Gandhi and other dignitaries, at Parliament,

in New Delhi on July 18, 2012. Photo © PIB

NEW DELHI, India (NNN-Xinhua) -- Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari Wednesday filed his nomination papers to contest the vice- presidential polls to be held in August, days after the country's ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) named him as their nominee.

The 75-year-old former diplomat filed his nomination papers before Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) secretary general T.K. Vishwanathan, who is the returning officer for the August 7 poll. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and leaders of the ruling coalition's allies were present during the occasion.

"I am very grateful to all the leaders who have come here to attend this function, for supporting my nomination and for sponsoring me," he told the media, after filing his papers in the national capital.

The Prime Minister added: "We are all very delighted that there is such a massive support for renomination of Hamid Ansari for the August office of Vice President."

The country's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance has fielded their senior leader the former Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh in the vice presidential poll.

Experts say that Ansari is likely to win as the numbers are in his favour.

Some 790 members of both Houses of Parliament -- the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) -- comprise the Electoral College.

If elected, Ansari will become the second person in Indian history to get a second consecutive five-year term in office. --NNN-XINHUA