Hamid Ansari re-elected as vice-president

New Delhi: Hamid Ansari has been re-elected as India’s vice-president, a government official said on Tuesday.

Of the 736 votes cast, Ansari got 490 votes, 252 more than his opponent Jaswant Singh. Eight votes were declared invalid.

“I declare Hamid Ansari as duly elected to the office of the vice-president of India,” the returning officer for the poll told reporters.

Ansari, 75, was supported by lawmakers of the Congress-led coalition. The retired diplomat first became vice-president in 2007.

In July, former finance minister Pranab Mukherjee was elected to the ceremonial post of president.