Contest is to assert identity: Vajpayee

Former Prime Minister and NDA Chairman A B Vajpayee has said the alliance is contesting the vice-presidential elections to 8220;assert its identity8221; and accused the ruling UPA of failing to arrive at a consensus.

Former Prime Minister and NDA Chairman A B Vajpayee has said the alliance is contesting the vice-presidential elections to 8220;assert its identity8221; and accused the ruling UPA of failing to arrive at a consensus.

Vajpayee was accompanying NDA candidate Najma Heptullah who filed her nomination paper for the August 10 vice-presidential poll. Vajpayee said the UPA first announced the name and 8220;then talked of consensus.8221; He said, 8220;Consensus is not formed that way.8221;

Heptullah submitted her nomination papers before Rajya Sabha Secretary General Yogendra Narain, also the Returning Officer. Today was the last date for filing of nomination papers.

Sixty-seven-year-old Heptullah was accompanied by BJP leaders L K Advani, Rajnath Singh and NDA convenor George Fernandes, S S Dhindsa of the Akali Dal and B J Panda of the BJD. Her name was finalised at a meeting of NDA leaders on Sunday evening.

Two NDA partners8212;Shiv Sena and Trinamool Congress8212;were not in present at Sunday8217;s meeting and during the filing of her nomination. Shiv Sena had parted ways with the BJP to support UPA candidate Pratibha Patil and Mamata Banerjee8217;s Trinamool Congress had abstained from the polls. The absence of both parties clearly indicated that the rift in the alliance was yet to be closed. NDA spokesperson Sushma Swaraj said attempts will be made to get Shiv Sena and Trinamool around.

Meanwhile, the numbers this time too are not in the NDA8217;s favour.

In an electoral college of 788, the UPA and supporting parties command 425 votes while the NDA has 240. Heptullah, who served the Upper House for 27 years, including 17 years as its Deputy Chairperson, said: 8220;This is not a fight. It is an election. Therefore, I have filed nomination.8221; Heptullah said she would ask every member of the electoral college for their support. 8220;I feel I am confident enough to handle the job. I have the qualification,8221; she added.