Former Congress leader Mufti Mohammad Syed on Wednesday floated a new political outfit, promising to work for restoration of peace in the militancy-torn state. Announcing the formation of `Jammu & Kashmir People's Democratic Party' (JKPDP) in Srinagar, Syed said his party would "articulate the grievances of the people of the state and seek redressal through constitutional means". The party would "wage a struggle for the restoration of normalcy, democracy and rule of law in the state so that human rights of the people can be duly respected and protected," said Syed.

AK Arora elected Haryana speaker

Ashok Kumar Arora of Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) was on Wednesday elected unopposed speaker of the Haryana assembly. Arora, 40, represents Thanesar assembly constituency in Kurukshetra district. His name was proposed by chief minister Om Prakash Chautala and seconded by Ram Bilas Sharma (BJP), Mani Ram Godara (HVP), Karan Singh Dalal (HVP-D) Kartar Devi(Congress) and Kailash Chand Sharma and Dev Raj Dewan (both Independents.

Chautala to constitute ministry today:

Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala would constitute his ministry on Thursday, official sources told PTI in Chandigarh. Chautala was sworn in alone last week after 55 MLAs belonging to INLD, HVP-D, BJP and six Independents informed Governor Mahabir Prasad that they had elected him their leader.

NCP to ask SP for "respectable" number of seats in UP

Nationalist Congress Party on Wednesday said it would demand "a respectable number of seats" from Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha elections. NCP spokesman Devendra Dwivedi told reporters here that talks were on with SP leaders on sharing of seats in Uttar Pradesh and the scene was likely to become clear within a week.

AICC member quits party:

Congress leader from Tamil Nadu V Selvaraj said he was quitting the party, as he was disillusioned with the state unit's `casteist' approach to politics.Selvaraj, who resigned from IAS to join the Congress, told reporters here that he had no immediate plans to join any other party.

Jaya's plea for copies of documents turned down

A special judge has dismissed an application by former chief minister Jayalalitha seeking certified copies of certain documents filed by the directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption (DVAC), including a letter rogatory sent abroad, in connection with a further probe into the disproportionate wealth case against the embattled leader.