New Delhi, April 1 -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Tuesday that he will once again have his past rival and current Vice President Geraldo Alckmin as his running mate for his reelection bid in October.

Lula, an 80-year-old leftist, had been under pressure to pick a different running mate from a bigger right-wing party, but his loyalty to the former Sao Paulo state governor prevailed. The 73-year-old Alckmin, a center-right politician who ran against Lula for the presidency in 2006 and lost, is also the government's industry minister.

Brazil's president said that Alckmin will leave his ministerial role to be eligible in accordance with the country's electoral law.

"Our partner Alckmin will have to leave the Industry...