Government asks allies to ensure all MPs are present in parliament

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has requested its allies to ensure that all members are present in parliament so that they can vote along with the government on crucial financial matters, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said here Tuesday.

"There is a fair chance there could be voting on occasions... We request all the leaders should ensure that their members are present in the house and vote along with the government," Chidambaram told reporters.

He was speaking outside 7, Race Course Road - the official residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The prime minister had invited UPA allies - DMK and Trinamool Congress MPs -- to dinner and to discuss the strategy for the parliament session, which will be taking up crucial financial business, including the rail and general budget.

He also expressed confidence that the government would be seeing through financial business in parliament.