Cong top brass meet

This was the first meeting of the Congress Core Group headed by Gandhi after the announcement of the schedule for the vice-presidential elections.

It was also the first meeting of the group after Pranab Mukherjee resigned from the party and the government to become the UPA Presidential nominee.

Mukherjee is no longer a part of this Core Group.

The meeting was held at a time when discussions are on for the choice for Leader of the Lok Sabha as also the number two in the government.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal briefed the Congress Core Group today about the progress of Mukherjee's presidential election campaign.

The names of Vice-president Hamid Ansari, Tribal Affairs Minister V Kishore Chandra Deo and former Nagaland Chief Minister S C Jamir are doing the rounds as the Vice Presidential candidate of Congress.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has been authorized by the party to decide the candidate like she did in the Presidential elections.

A section of party men also speak about Sushil Kumar Shinde who was the Opposition candidate for the Vice Presidentship ten years ago against BJP's Bhairon Singh Shekhawat during NDA rule at the Centre. Shinde is a Dalit face of the party.