CPI (M) favours vice president with distinguished background

Chennai, July 12 (ANI): Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Prakash Karat on Thursday said the UPA coalition has to take a final call on the vice presidential candidate, but added that the person for the coveted post, should be one having stature and a distinguished background.

Karat, however, said his party would comment on the vice presidential candidate only after the ruling alliance comes out with a name.

"As far as the vice presidentship is concerned, the UPA has to decided whom they want to put up for the post. We have told the Prime Minister that we would like to have a person, who is not belonging to the Congress Party to be the Vice President who will have stature and who has a distinguished background. So, it is up to them to decide. We will then respond after that," he said.

According to certain media reports, the Prime Minister has so far spoken to JDS supremo H.D. Deve Gowda, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, CPM leader Prakash Karat and CPI's A.B. Bardhan, in an endeavor to garner support for Mohammad Hamid Ansari for a second term as vice president.

The UPA is meeting in New Delhi on July 14 to decide on who will be their vice presidential candidate.

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which is yet to take a final call on its support to UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee, is expected to take part in the ruling alliance deliberations.

The last date for nomination for the vice president election, scheduled for 7th August 7, is July 20.

Ansari's term as Vice President ends on August 10. (ANI)