Ansari set to get a second term as VP

New Delhi, July 14 (PTI): Luck may have eluded Hamid Ansari in moving to Rashtrapati Bhavan but he is soon set to create a record as only the second person in 50 years to get a consecutive term as Vice President. Ansari, 75, a career diplomat who has also served as Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, will emulate the late philosopher-statesman S Radhakrishnan who got two terms as vice-president between 1952 and 1962. In 2007, Ansari was a surprise choice for Vice President when Left parties, which were supporting the UPA-I government from outside, proposed his name and the Congress-led alliance accepted it. He had defeated Najma Heptuallah of BJP in the 2007 election securing 455 votes in an electoral college of 788. Rashid Masood, a candidate of UNPA, was placed third. Well read and an affable personality, Ansari was among the front runners in the race for the Presidential election next week. His name was the UPA's second choice as revealed by Sonia Gandhi but Pranab Mukherjee pipped him to the post after Trinamool Congress' pressure tactics on the Congress failed. Ansari was Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities when he was nominated for the Vice-Presidential poll in 2007. By and large, he carried himself well in the post as well as Chairman of Rajya Sabha except for the controversial decision to abruptly adjourn the House on the last day of the winter session last year when the House was expected to vote on the Lokpal bill. BJP was critical of the adjournment decision alleging it was done to rescue the government from a possible embarrassing defeat. The Prime Minister proposed Ansari's name and sought the suggestions of the leaders present. Later Gandhi made the announcement. As of now, Ansari enjoys a clear edge in August 7 poll. In an electoral college of 790 MPs, he has the likely backing of over 500 MPs. In the last election, he had polled 455 votes against 222 of Najma Heptullah fielded by NDA. Rashid Masood of the now defunct United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) had got 75 votes. At that time, Ansari's candidature was floated by the Left parties, which were key outside supporters of the UPA.