By IANS
New Delhi : The Congress Friday made contact with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati to firm up the selection of a candidate for vice president, a day after MPs and legislators across the country voted for a new head of state.
Mayawati, also the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief, said that United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi has suggested "a few names" for her party's consideration to the post of vice president.
"She (Gandhi) called me up today (Friday) morning and suggested two or three names. She has also given their personal details," Mayawati, who was here, told reporters. "I will get back to her after consulting my party members."
The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led Left parties, which held discussions Thursday, is also believed to have prepared a list of nominees for the post of vice president, who presides over the Rajya Sabha.
According to Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary A.B. Bardhan, the Left leaders would meet again to finalise a name on which "there could be broadest possible consensus".
Left sources indicated that the nominee could be a Muslim and a "non-political person".
Meanwhile, the eight-party United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) has proposed Rasheed Masood, a Samajwadi Party MP, as their nominee for the post.
With this, a triangular fight is expected.
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has indicated that it may field Najma Heptullah, Rajya Sabha MP and former deputy chairperson of the upper house.
Unlike the electoral college for presidential election, state legislators will not vote in the vice presidential poll – only MPs can take part in the exercise.
The combined strength of the two houses is 790 MPs. While the Lok Sabha has 543 members, there are 233 members in the Rajya Sabha. There are 12 nominated members in the upper house and two in the lower house.
Taken together, the UPA, Left and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have a majority in parliament.