Jaswant Singh still confident of victory, despite Ansari starting as favourite

New Delhi, Aug 7 (ANI): With UPA nominee Hamid Ansari appearing all set to get a second term, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) backed candidate Jaswant Singh on Tuesday expressed confidence of winning the vice presidential election, and took the help of ancient Indian Hindu Epic 'Mahabharata' to justify his stand.

Jaswant Singh said everybody knows there were how many Pandavas and Kauravas.

The Pandavas were lesser in number than the Kauravas in the epic of the Mahabharata.

He, however, said that it would be better to watch the latest developments, as the voting has already begun to elect the Vice President of India.

Jaswant Singh has the support of the BJP, the Janata Dal-United, the Shiv Sena, the Akali Dal, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and several other smaller parties.

Moreover, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha's decision to abstain from voting in the vice-presidential election has also given a blow to Jaswant Singh for he was looking forward to their support.

UPA's vice presidential candidate Ansari has the committed 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.

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 votes today to elect the 14th Vice President.(ANI)