Jaswant Singh to seek Jayalalithaa's support for vice presidential election

Chennai, Aug 6 (ANI): NDA's vice presidential candidate Jaswant Singh arrived here on Monday to garner the support of Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) chief J. Jayalalithaa for the election scheduled to be held tomorrow.

Singh said that he would be meeting the AIADMK chief and then return to New Delhi.

"I am here in Chennai to seek the support from AIADMK. Therefore, I will be calling on Jayalalithaaji today and I shall return to Delhi in the evening," he told mediapersons outside the Chennai Airport here.

Jaswant Singh, who has the committed support of the BJP, Janata Dal-United, Shiv Sena, Akali Dal and several other smaller parties, also expressed confidence that he would emerge victorious in the vice presidential election.

"I am hopeful, that's why I am here," he said.

UPA's vice presidential candidate Hamid Ansari has a definite edge in the vice presidential election, as he has the support of the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahuja Samaj Party (BSP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), CPM, National Conference and several others.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) is also expected to vote for Hamid Ansari. Moreover, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha has announced that it would abstain from voting in the vice-presidential election.

The Vice President is elected through a direct ballot with Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members (including nominated) comprising the Electoral College.

A total of 790 MPs are eligible to cast their vote on August 7 to elect the 14th Vice President.