Opposition will be united on Vice Prez candidate: JD-U

The Janata Dal-United on Monday said that the Opposition parties will seek to put up a united face during the vice presidential election notwithstanding the differences among them on the issue of presidential election.

"President's election was a different ball game. It was a different thing in the Presidential election. Pranab Mukherjee has so much experience in politics. He understands the country. That is why we supported his candidature".

"However, this time efforts will be made to ensure that the Opposition puts up a united face on the issue of vice president's election. We are now worried about vice president's election. We want there should be a broader unity in the Opposition on it," party president Sharad Yadav said.

He said that the JD-U's desire is that the Chair should be occupied by a "neutral person" so that all parties can raise their issues in Parliament.

Yadav, however, refused to comment on whether his party will support Hamid Ansari's candidature for the top job and whose name has been discussed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a meeting with JD-S president and former Prime Minister H D Devegowda.

"We will not be speculating on names. No name has been discussed with us so far," Yadav said.

Sources meanwhile said that the Prime Minister had reached out to the JD-U on the issue of vice president election a few days back when Yadav had gone to meet him in connection with linkage of coal demand related to Bihar.

Asked whether the Opposition will put up a candidate for vice president this time, Yadav said his party does have the numbers that it can put up somebody and ensure that person's victory in the Vice Presidential election on its own strength.

"The issue has so far not been discussed in NDA. A decision will be taken when any such discussion takes place. So the question does not arise at this stage about putting up a candidate," he said.