Chennai:
CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat has said that his party wants a non-Congress person to be the next Vice-President.
Mr Karat, who is in Chennai today for a party meeting, said "We have told the Prime Minister that we would like to have a person who is not belonging to Congress party to be the Vice-President and who has a distinguished background. Now it's up to them to decide."
Mr Karat's statement comes at a time political circless are abuzz with speculation that the UPA could nominate the outgoing Vice-President Mr Hamid Ansari for a second term.