Hamid Ansari files nomination papers for VP poll

United Progressive Alliance's vice presidential candidate Hamid Ansari filed his nomination papers in Delhi on Wednesday for the poll, to be held on August 7, in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and leaders of the ruling UPA.

Ansari, 75, who is set to become the second person to get two consecutive terms as vice president, filed his nomination papers before Lok Sabha Secretary General T K Vishwanathan, who is the Returning Officer for the poll.

Sonia Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Congress Member of Parliament Motilal Vora and Bahujan Samaj Party leader Satish Chandra Mishra submitted one set of papers each to Vishwanathan in support of Ansari's candidature. Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar and leaders of other ruling coalition were also present.

Soon after filing his nomination papers, Ansari thanked UPA and its partners for supporting his candidature.

"I am very grateful to all the leaders who have come here to attend this function for supporting my nomination and for sponsoring me," he told reporters.

He was greeted by Members of Parliament from Congress and UPA partners. No Trinamool Congress MP was present when Ansari filed his papers.

The prime minister said, "We are all very delighted that there is such a massive support for the re-nomination of Hamid Ansari for the august office of vice president."

Ansari was received by the prime minister, the Congress president and other leaders in the lobby of Parliament since he holds the office of vice president. They accompanied him to the Lok Sabha secretary general's office.