Setting the stage for a triangular contest, United Progressive Alliance-Left nominee Mohammad Hamid Ansari and National Democratic Alliance candidate Najma Heptulla on Monday filed their nomination papers for the August 10 vice presidential poll.
They will clash with Third Front aspirant Rashid Masood, a former Union minister, in an all-Muslim race for the second highest office.
Led by the top brass of UPA leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and a host of Union ministers besides Left leaders, Ansari, a seasoned diplomat and academician, filed two sets of nomination papers.
"It is a great occasion," the 70-year old Ansari told media persons after filing his papers when asked to comment on how he felt.
On how he will run the Rajya Sabha as its chairman without any parliamentary experience, he said, "Any organisation is run on the basis of rules and regulations. Rajya Sabha has excellent rules and regulations."
Soon after Ansari filed his papers, Heptulla completed the formalities before Rajya Sabha Secretary General Yogendra Narain, who is the Returning Officer.
Monday was the last date for filing of nomination papers.
Sixty seven-year old Heptulla, whose name was finalised at the NDA meeting on Sunday, was accompanied by top BJP leaders Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L K Advani and Rajnath Singh, and NDA convenor George Fernandes.
Though leaders of NDA allies Janata Dal-United, Akali Dal and some other regional parties were present, the Shiv Sena and Trinamool Congress were conspicuous by their absence.
While the Shiv Sena had broken ranks with the NDA to vote for UPA canidate Pratibha Patil in the Presidential election, Mamata Banerjee's party had abstained.
Both Shiv Sena and Trinamool Congress did not turn up for the NDA meeting on Sunday where Heptulla's name was cleared.
"We will seek the support of Shiv Sena as well as Trinamool Congress," senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj told media persons.
She said there was a difference between the presidential and vice presidential polls.
"In the presidential poll, the UNPA had abstained. But this time, it will vote as it has fielded its candidate. Besides, this time there will be second preferential votes, which we will seek."
However, admitting that the numbers were against her, Heptulla, who served the Upper House for 27 years, including 17 years as its deputy chairperson, said: "This is not a fight. It is an election. Therefore, I have filed nomination."
Heptulla said she will ask every member of the Electoral College for their support.
"I feel I am confident enough to handle the job. I have the qualification," she added.
To a question whether she expected cross voting in her favour, she said it was not correct to use the expression cross-voting as no whip is issued.
"If there is no whip then it is no cross-voting," she explained.
