On Rahul's dinner menu, V-P election, SIR and J&K statehood restoration

AT the meeting of the Opposition INDIA bloc hosted by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, the parties have decided to finalize a candidate for the vice presidential election after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) announces its candidate.

- PREETHA NAIR @ New Delhi

The meeting also deliberated on the contentious issue of ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir among others.

Though over 50 senior leaders of 25 parties have attended the high-profile dinner diplomacy meet, the discussion on Vice President Candidate was attended by top leaders of 12 parties. While some of the leaders expressed apprehension over fielding an INDIA bloc candidate against NDA, CPI (M) general secretary M A Baby strongly rooted for the necessity of contesting the election, said a leader who attended the meeting.