VP poll: Mamata's choice Gopal Gandhi refuses to contest

New Delhi, July 15 (ANI: Former West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi, whose named was suggested for the post of vice-president by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, has refused to contest.

According to a TV report, Gandhi has rejected suggestions to contest the polls.

His refusal is a jolt to the West Bengal Chief Minster, because earlier A. P. J. Abdul Kalam had also refused to contest the July 19 presidential election despite Banerjee proposing his name as the people's president.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday nominated incumbent Vice President Hamid Ansari for a second term. His first term as vice president ends on August 10.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, had earlier spoken to Banerjee, JDS supremo H.D. Deve Gowda, CPM leader Prakash Karat and CPI's A.B. Bardhan, in an endeavor to garner support for Ansari.

Railway Minister Mukul Roy who represented the party at the meeting of UPA leaders on Saturday said he will convey the decision on the vice-presidential candidate issue to his party and the decision on the matter will be announced later.

"We are allies of the UPA. I will go back and communicate the decision taken in the UPA meeting to the party. The party will decide on the matter," Roy told reporters.

The relationship between the ruling Congress Party and its ally, the Trinamool Congress, has weakened over the past one month following disagreement on the choice of the presidential candidate.

Opposing the candidature of Pranab Mukherjee, Banerjee had proposed the name of APJ Abdul Kalam for the top post. She stuck to her stand till the end, even as the former President said that he was not in the race for Raisina Hills. (ANI)