Not throwing up any surprises,the UPA today renominated Vice-President Hamid Ansari for a second term,announcing the same after a meeting of the alliance convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Ansari set to get a second term as VP Ally Trinamool Congress again struck a discordant note,proposing former governor Gopal Gandhi and former MP Krishna Bose as candidates,though clarifying that they had not opposed Ansari yet. The TMC was represented by Railways Minister Mukul Roy. Have 'open mind' on VP poll candidate: Trinamool The NCP,incidentally,stayed away from the meeting though Sharad Pawar said they support the UPAs choice. Sonia Gandhi proposed Ansaris renomination,and later the PM met him. Just before the meeting,Singh also spoke to BJP leaders L K Advani and Sushma Swaraj to seek their support for Ansari. Swaraj,BJP sources said,turned him down and indicated that the party would be fielding a candidate. Singh also called up JD(U) president Sharad Yadav. While the JD(U) is supporting the UPA on the Presidential election,it has not extended similar support for Ansari. The PM also spoke to SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati,who accepted the decision of the UPA. CPM general secretary Prakash Karat told the PM that the Left parties would get back to the UPA Monday. UPA sources were confident of their support. While the PM also called up Mamata Banerjee,Trinamool sources said she told him that her party would decide in a couple of days.
