The Indian Express The Financial Express Latest News Elections '98 Express Investment Week Market Indicators Screen Express Computers Travel & Tourism Advertisers Forum Information Technology Drumbeat: Ad Buzzaar Astrosurf Eco-India Career India Business Forum Match Maker Express Properties

Politics Business Expressions General Sports Leisure States 22 February 1998   Vajpayee goes on fast unto death Former Prime Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Atal Behari Vajpayee announced that he would go on a fast unto death against what he termed as the ``unconstitutional and undemocratic'' dismissal of the Kalyan Singh government in Uttar Pradesh. Vajpayee also expressed his willingness to met I K Gujral before taking a final decision.   Joshi denies threat from independents Chief Minister Manohar Joshi today dismissed speculation about the threat to his office spurred by reports about the independent legislators supporting the minority government switching loyalties. It's Sonia vs Gadkari in RSS HQ The prestige of the BJP is stake at the Nagpur Lok Sabha seat. More than the BJP, it is the political clout of Pramod Mahajan and Nitin Gadkari which will be severely damaged if Vilas Muttemwar of the Congress manages to pull it off. Thanks to Sonia who rejuvenated the Congress ranks and brought back its traditional voter into the party fold. Sonia yet to clear Rajiv in Bofors case: Advani The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said yesterday that Sonia Gandhi had not convincingly cleared her adversaries' suspicion about her husband Rajiv Gandhi's alleged involvement in the Bofors payoffs case. The party has also demanded her to immediately respond to premier I K Gujral's contention that Congress withdrew support to his government fearing disclosure of the names of the beneficiaries of the pay-offs.   Sound of UP crash is music to many Uttar Pradesh Governor Romesh Bhandari's dismissal of the Kalyan Singh Government has drawn swift reactions from all the parties on the Indian political horizon. Most of the parties have responded in a very positive note to the down fall of the BJP government in UP with a Kesri accusing the government of being unfit to carry on its duties. Govt plans apex board, common balance sheet for IA, AI The Union government is likely to set up an apex board for Indian Airlines (IA) and Air India (AI), together with a common or notional balance sheet, as an intermediate step towards the merger of the two airlines. The plan is now being studied by the department of expenditure after having been cleared by the boards of IA and AI and the Planning Commission.   LEISURE   The answer is blowin' in the wind   Academic publishers bask in an evergreen market SPORTS   McMillan hits maiden century   Pitch tampering: TN, Delhi banned from Ranji Trophy EXPRESSIONS   Election Graffiti   Justice above all BUSINESS   Short-term deposit rates to fall   Skindia GDR index gains 5% GENERAL   US to attack if Annan mission fails   City police on high alert for Sonia's visit POLITICS   Jaya woos TN voters in Hindi   First phase of polling in State today