In a move that could lead to cracking the whip, Congress floor managers also announced that explanation will be sought from its members absent in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha during voting on President Address yesterday and today respectively.
Nearly 50 members of the UPA, about half of them from the Congress, were absent in the Lok Sabha yesterday and some half a dozen Congress members in the Rajya Sabha today despite a three-line whip issued by the ruling party.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal told reporters that he would be writing letters to the members who played truant and seek clarification as to why they were absent.
He said he would also seek details of members from the Upper House who were absent during the debate on the Lokpal bill.
The party leadership could take serious cognizance of the absence of MPs in view of the fact that a three-line whip asking members to be present during the voting was issued.
Several Union Ministers were also absent from the Lok Sabha yesterday during the voting including some from the allies.
Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar of the NCP and T R Baalu of the DMK were among leaders who attended the formal floor coordination meeting of the UPA convened by Bansal who said such meetings will take place on the mornings of Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
If need be consultations will be held on Monday and Friday too, he said.
Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj had alleged in the Lok Sabha that the numbers on the vote had exposed government's claim of majority.
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