Akhilesh to host Pranab to lunch Tuesday

Lucknow, July 2 (IANS) A lavish spread and a grand welcome awaits ruling United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee when he arrives in the state capital Tuesday.

Officials Monday went into an overdrive after Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav decided to host a lunch for the visiting veteran leader.

The secretariat administration was Monday busy preparing invites and the menu for the grand reception.

Secretary of the Sachivalaya (secretariat) administration Prashant Trivedi told IANS that all the preparations were being made as per the "desired protocol".

The former union finance minister is likely to first meet Congress legislators. He will also meet legislators of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the two major parties which have committed to extend their support to him in the presidential poll.

Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi has formed a committee to oversee Mukherjee's daylong visit to the state.

Mukherjee will also call on Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who supported his candidature as the UPA candidate for presidency after Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee refused to back him.

Congress party workers have been asked to be present in large numbers at the Chaudhary Charan Singh Amausi Airport when Mukherjee arrives Tuesday morning.

Lucknow would be Mukherjee's third stop after Chennai and Hyderabad. He is rallying support for himself in the July 19 presidential election, in which he is pitted against P.A. Sangma, who is supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Biju Janata Dal, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the AIADMK.

-- Indo-Asian News Service

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