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Triangular race for Vice Presidency |
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With the nomination papers of three candidates put up by the major political formations found valid on scrutiny and none of them withdrawing their nomination by the last date of withdrawal, the stage is set for a triangular contest on August 10. Polling and counting of votes will take place on the same day and the result will be available the same afternoon.
The UPA-Left nominee Mohd. Hamid Ansari is the likely winner in the three-leg race, going by the numerical superiority of the UPA-Left in the Electoral College for Vice President, which consists of Members of Parliament. The UPA-Left have a clear majority in both Houses of Parliament. The other two candidates in the fray are NDA nominee Najma Heptullah and Rashid Masood of the Third Front.
Vote against Iran a mistake : Ansari sticks to his view
The UPA-Left nominee Hamid Ansari has given expression to his view that India’s vote against Iran at the meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was a mistake. In an interview with an English weekly Outlook, he said, “I believe India acted with haste on the Iran vote.”
Ansari’s candidature was first proposed by the Left, which has consistently opposed India going along with the US in censur¬ing Iran. His name was officially announced by Congress presi¬dent Sonia Gandhi, but the Left parties seem keen to assert he is “their” man and not a Congressman.
Ansari’s statement comes even as he is campaigning in the vice-presidential election and faces NDA’s Najma Heptullah.
Ansari had his reasons for India not being seen with Iran’s enemies. “There are four strong and objective reasons for India to maintain good relations with Iran. Iran is an important neighbouring country on the other side of Pakistan. Second, it is a major source of energy. It is the only route to access Central Asia and Afghanistan. It is a very important Gulf na¬tion. We cannot afford to undermine our relations with Iran,” Ansari said.
Ironically, Ansari was all praise for former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for not succumbing to pressure to send Indian troops to Iraq. “We have to give the credit to Vajpayee. He was under pressure from individuals in his administration besides the US. But he read the pulse of the public and realised that it would be a monumental folly,” Ansari said.
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