TwoCircles.net staff reporter
New Delhi : UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi declared Hamid Ansari as candidate for Vice-president post. This was decided after a meeting of UPA in New Delhi. This meeting was attended by Left parties and other allies. Left parties had demanded for a minority and non-political candidate.
Hamid Ansari, former diplomat, has also served as chairman of the Minorities Commission. Mr. Ansari was Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, High Commissioner to Australia and Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia. He was also the Vice-Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University from May 2000 to March 2002. Before assuming office as NCM chief, he was a member of the National Security Advisory Board.
UPA was looking for a candidate who can handle Rajya Sabha. It is believed there was agreement that since most senior BJP leaders defeated in last election are in Rajya Sabha, the chairperson should be someone who can handle the volatile house was reported in TOI.