By IANS
New Delhi : United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi is throwing a dinner for MPs of the ruling alliance on Wednesday aimed at floor coordination before parliament meets for the monsoon session two days later.
Sources in the Congress party confirmed the dinner, but were not certain about the venue. However, insiders said it will be held at a five star hotel.
The occasion is likely to be used to mobilise and consolidate last-minute voting in Friday’s vice presidential election.
The UPA has set up retired diplomat and former chairman of the National Minorities Commission Mohammad Hamid Ansari as its candidate. Pitted against him is the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA)’s Najma Heptullah, former deputy chairperson of Rajya Sabha.
The third front, also known as the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA), has Samajwadi Party MP Rasheed Masood as its candidate.
The electoral college for the vice president comprises only MPs, both of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, and the UPA enjoys an overwhelming majority.