Top national leaders to visit state next week

MUMBAI: A host of top leaders, including President Pratibha Patil, Vice President Hameed Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, will be descending upon Maharashtra next week.

The Vice President will arrive here on February 4 to attend a two-day All India Whip's Conference (AIWC) beginning here the same day. This would be Ansari's first visit to the city after becoming the Vice President.

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee is among the VVIPs who will reach here on February 4 to participate in the 14th AIWC.

Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi is reaching here on February 3 to inaugurate Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) the same day. He will also attend the AIWC. Dasmunshi will attend the Doordarshan Annual Awards here on February 4.

Dr Manmohan Singh will come to Maharashtra for a day's visit on February 8 to attend Dhanji Gadgil Function in Ahmednagar the same day.

President Pratibha Patil will be coming to her home state on a two-day visit from February 8. She will attend few functions to be held at Jalgaon.