No final decision on Vice Presidential candidate: Congress

NEW DELHI: Amid reports that Hamid Ansari could get a second term as Vice President, Congress today said no final decision has been taken on the issue so far.

"Let there be a formal announcement. Talks happen. What transpired between the Prime Minister and some others can be answered by only them.

"As far as the party is concerned, no final decision has been taken. There is a consultation process underway. When a decision is taken, it will be communicated to you," party spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is believed to have discussed in the last few days with JD-S chief H D Deve Gowda and CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat names of candidates for the August 7 poll for the Vice President's post.

The electoral college for Vice President's election comprises just the members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and the UPA is comfortably placed to ensure success of its candidate.

"The Prime Minister called our leader H D Deve Gowda on Saturday and discussed about Vice-Presidential election. Ansari's name came up during the discussion. Our party fully supports Ansari's candidature," JD-S spokesperson Danish Ali told PTI.

"Ansari's was the only name discussed and no other name came up during the discussion," he said.

Ali said it was very natural for incumbent Vice-President to get a second term if the ruling dispensation, during which he was elected the first time, comes to power next time too.

The Prime Minister's consultations followed the Congress Working Committee authorising party chief Sonia Gandhi to select the candidate after discussions with allies and others.

A senior Congress leader, however, downplayed the matter saying, "There is no finality on it."