As the focus shifts to Vice Presidential election, the UPA-Left on Friday began the search for a nominee to succeed Bhairon Singh Shekhawat amid Left indications that it prefers Hamid Ansari, head of the Minority Commission for the post.
Ahead of the meeting of the leaders of the UPA and Left parties on Friday evening, Congress president Sonia Gandhi gave a couple of names to BSP supremo and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati for her consideration for the post of Vice President.
Sonia, who is also UPA chairperson, rang up Mayawati on Friday morning to give the names, along with their bio-data, in a clear move to seek the BSP support in the August 10 poll.
The action was significant as the ruling party in Uttar Pradesh had played a key role in the Presidential poll, which concluded on Thursday, by supporting the candidature of UPA-Left nominee Pratibha Patil.
Mayawati, who also had a lengthy meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, later told a press conference that her party will consider 'those two, three names,' but declined to reveal them.
She did not reply to a query whether the names included that of Ansari.
"We have never done any politics in the name of caste or religion," Mayawati shot back when asked whether her party favoured an SC/ST candidate for the Vice Presidentship.
The names of former diplomat Abid Hussein and Haryana Governor A R Kidwai are also doing the rounds in political circles for the high office.
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