Singh discussed Ansari's name with former Prime Minister and JD-S leader HD Deve Gowda on Saturday. JD-S supported Ansari's candidature.
"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called our leader H D Deve Gowda on Saturday and discussed the Vice-Presidential election. Hamid Ansari's name came up during the discussion. Our party fully supports Ansari's candidature," JD-S spokesperson Danish Ali told PTI.
Ali made it clear that no other name was discussed during the meeting. "Hamid Ansari's name was the only name that was discussed and no other name came up during the discussion," Ali said.
He also said that it is very natural for incumbent Vice-President to get a second term.
Ansari's name was also discussed by the Congress for President's post along with that of Pranab Mukherjee. However, Mukherjee was chosen as the UPA nominee for the Presidential election.
The name of Ansari was doing the round for the Vice-Presidential election for quite a few days. A section in the Congress feels that Ansari's second term as Vice-President will send a good signal to minorities.
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During the run-up to the Presidential election, names of BJP leader Jaswant Singh and Punjab Chief Minister and Akali Dal president Prakash Singh Badal came up as probable V-P candidates from the opposition camp.