Prez poll: Sonia to host lunch today, Mamata may not attend

Congress president Sonia Gandhi will today host a lunch for the MPs of UPA and supporting parties. Party sources said that the luncheon get-together would facilitate greater interaction with all MPs of the ruling alliance as also supporting parties ahead of the voting. How the Presidential elections work

Congress president Sonia Gandhi will on Wednesday host a lunch for the MPs of UPA and supporting parties. Party sources said that the luncheon get-together would facilitate greater interaction with all MPs of the ruling alliance as also supporting parties ahead of the voting.

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After Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee declared her party's decision to support Pranab for the President's job on Tuesday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi called up the TMC chief and thanked her for the support. She also invited her for Wednesday's luncheon meeting of UPA allies and other supporting parties. UPA's presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee also called up Mamata and expressed his gratitude to her.

Now it remains to be seen if Mamata will attend the luncheon get-together to be held on Wednesday. According to media reports, TMC will not be attending the lunch.

Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday made a dramatic turnaround, announcing that her party would support UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee in the presidential polls - albeit with "a heavy heart".

Banerjee had been opposing the idea of Mukherjee becoming President even before the UPA nominated him officially. She had proposed three names as her choices, instead.

The TMC chief even took the risk of alienating herself within the UPA and going against the wave of popular opinion in West Bengal to oppose Mukherjee.

How the Presidential elections work