UPA confident of winning VP election: Dasmunsi

New Delhi, Aug 7 (UNI) Congress-led UPA is confident that its Vice Presidential candidate Hamid Ansari will win the election even as poll campaign manager and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi is taking all steps to ensure a convincing victory margin for the candidate.

Talking to newspersons here today, Mr Dasmunsi said the total number of votes of the combined houses of Parliament stood at 783 and the winning candidate required 50 per cent plus one vote in the first count to get himself elected.

He expressed confidence that Dr Ansari's victory margin would be much higher.

Responding to a question, Mr Dasmunsi said the new Vice President will be given the oath of office on the evening of August 11 and he would assume the charge of the Vice Chairman of the Rajya Sabha from August 13, he added.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Sonia Gandhi is hostng a dinner for the Members of Parliament on August 8 before the beginning of the monsoon session.

UNI