UPA meet on VP poll; Trinamool, Congress face off likely

The UPA and its allies will meet today to hold consultations to decide on the nominee for the Vice-President's post. The elections for the post is scheduled to be held on August 7.

A meeting of the UPA and its allies will be held on Saturday to hold consultations to decide on the nominee for the Vice-President's post.

Though officially the Congress has said a formal decision on the nominee is yet to be taken, sources said that Vice-President Hamid Ansari is likely to be fielded by the Congress for a second term.

The Trinamool Congress, which skipped the UPA meeting to decide the Presidential nominee, would attend the meeting represented by railway minister Mukul Roy and he is expected to put forward their own choice.

According to reports, the Trinamool is keen on former West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi or Krishna Bose, a relative of Netaji Subhas Bose.

A second term for incumbent Ansari appears certain with several parties in the alliance and outside giving their support to his candidature.

The last day for filing nomination for Vice-Presidential election is July 20 and elections for the post is scheduled to be held on August 7.