BJP leadership on Monday summoned Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh to discuss the party's election strategy in the next phase of polling in the state amidst reports that he was sulking and not campaigning effectively. Singh met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and home minister LK Advani at Prime Minister's residence as they reviewed their strategy in the wake of reports that the party was set to take some knocking in UP.

EC observer to Amethi removed

The controversial EC observer to Amethi DK Rao was on Monday removed from his assignment in the Lok Sabha constituency. EC sources said Rao, an IAS officer of Gujarat cadre, had been removed from duty pending verification of certain allegations levelled by some political parties against him.

Nitish's house attacked

Police fired several rounds in the air to quell a violent mob which attacked the Bakhtiyarpur residence of former Union minister Nitish Kumar during a protestdemonstration against the killing of a ruling RJD activist. Police told PTI that around 250 RJD workers protesting against the killing of Om Singh attacked Kumar's house at Bakhtiyarpur, about 50 km from Patna, and made an abortive attempt to set his home on fire.

Rajesh Pilot rakes up Kargil issue

Senior Congress leader Rajesh Pilot on Monday said his party was ready to "furnish proof" that the Vajpayee government was aware that the Kargil infiltration had taken place in September last year and accused the BJP of not coming clean to the people on the episode. Congress "has fool proof information of infiltration in the Kargil sector having taken place in September/October last year," Pilot said addressing a series of election meetings in Gorakhpur.

Repoll in 461 polling stations

The Election Commission has ordered repoll on Tuesday in 461 polling stations in four states, including 201 in Bihar, where violence marred Lok Sabha elections in the third phase on September 18. Apart fromBihar, repoll will now be held in 107 polling stations in Uttar Pradesh, 88 polling stations in Andhra Pradesh and 65 in Madhya Pradesh.