Incumbent Hamid Ansari, who was named as United Progressive Alliance's nominee for the Vice Presidential election, on Saturday said he accepts the decision with "all humility" and thanked all political parties who supported his candidature.
"I thank the prime minister, the UPA chairperson, members of the UPA and those parties which have supported my candidature for the confidence reposed in me for shouldering once again the responsibility of this high office," he said soon after his name was endorsed at a meeting of UPA partners.
He said he accepts the candidature "in all humility".
Before Ansari made the brief statement to reporters, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal drove to the Vice President's House to officially convey the UPA's decision.
Bansal said the name of Ansari for the post of the vice president for a second term was decided in view of the "dignity and distinction with which he conducted and presided over the Rajya Sabha in the first term."
It is learnt that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati spoke with Ansari earlier on Saturday.
