Question

The runner-up in the recent Vice-Presidential election was

• A. Mr. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat
• B. Dr. Najma Heptullah
• C. Mr. Praful Patel
• D. Mr. Hameed Ansari

Hint:

Recall who contested against Hamid Ansari in the 2007 Vice-Presidential race and lost.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Question.
This question is about the Vice-Presidential election that took place just before this paper was set, in August 2007. It asks who came second, that is the runner up, in that contest.

Step 2: Key Fact.
The 2007 Vice-Presidential election was fought between Mohammad Hamid Ansari, who was backed by the UPA, and Dr. Najma Heptulla, who contested as the NDA candidate.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation.
Hamid Ansari won the election with a comfortable majority and went on to serve two terms as Vice-President of India from 2007 to 2017.
Dr. Najma Heptulla lost the contest and so was the runner-up, even though she polled a respectable number of votes as the opposition nominee.
Mr. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was the outgoing Vice-President at that time and was not a candidate in this particular election.
Mr. Praful Patel was a Union minister in that period and had no role as a candidate in the Vice-Presidential poll.

Step 4: Final Answer.
The runner-up was Dr. Najma Heptulla, so option (B) is correct.