NEW DELHI: Veteran Congresswoman and parliamentarian Najma Heptullah was elected as Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha for a fourth term today.Her election was unanimous, with no other candidate in the fray for the post. Fifty-eight-year-old Heptullah was first elected to the post in January 1985 and has been occupied the position for 13 years till now. She was warmly congratulated by Prime Minister Vajpayee and members from all sections of the House.

Sharif will talk

NEW DELHI: Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has agreed to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's suggestion for bilateral discussion on all issues of concern during the forthcoming SAARC summit in Colombo, Rajya Sabha was informed today. Sharif had replied on June 23 to Vajpayee's letter of June 14 agreeing that they should hold bilateral discussions during the SAARC summit, Minister of State for External Affairs Vasundhara Raje said in a written reply.

Samata manquits

NEW DELHI: A day after Samata Party claimed to have resolved internal differences, its national General Secretary Brishen Patel resigned from the post expressing unhappiness over the leadership's stand on the demand for dismissal of Bihar govt. Patel said, he did not agree with the explanation given by Fernandes that the demand could not be pursued due to lack of majority in RS.