Ansari re-elected vice-president, second after Dr. Radhakrishnan

As it was declared initially and never any doubt about his victory, UPA candidate Hamid Ansari re elected as the Vice President of India. He is the just second who has get a second term in the office in the last 50 years after Dr. S. Radhakrishnan who enjoyed the office for consecutive two term from 1952 to 1962.

Hamid Ansari won the election by a huge margin and defeated his NDA rival Jaswant Singh by 252 votes. Ansari polled 490 first preference votes out of 728 whereas BJP leader Jaswant Singh polled only 238 votes.

According to Lok Sabha Secretary General T.K. Viswanathan, the returning officer for the poll, 787 members from the two houses were eligible to cast vote, and 736 exercised their franchise. Eight votes were found invalid.

It is noted that Ansari needed 365 votes to be declared and his victory was certain from beginning.

Ansari's victory is a major triumph for ruling UPA alliance as after Presidential election, now its supported candidate has won the Vice President post also.

However during Vice President election, NDA was united still its candidate Jaswant Singh has nothing to do for the victory.

Jaswant Singh said that the result was not disheartening for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which the BJP leads. NDA was united and it got other votes also. Certainly there is place for satisfaction and not for despair, he added.

Soon after his victory Ansari said that he is delighted with the results and expressed his gratitude to MPs for giving him support.

"Core agenda of the chair is determined by the house. I am confident that we would have cooperative approach to work entrusted to Rajya Sabha," he said.

It is noted that Ansari, who has served as the country's vice president since 2007, is a distinguished scholar and a seasoned diplomat. A former ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia, Ansari also worked as vice chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University and chairman of the National Minorities Commission.

(With inputs from IANS)