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Politics Business Expressions General Sports Leisure States 03 January, 1998   Mayawati applies brake to Laloo's secular front plan Former Bihar chief minister Laloo Yadav's plans to launch the secular front on the first day of the new year have failed to take off with senior BSP leader Mayawati insisting that her party would contest all 85 seats in Uttar Pradesh. The proposed front also includes the Samajwadi Janata Party and the Bharatiya Kisan Kamgar Party but Mayawati's rigid stance has jeopardised the proposed alliance even before its creation.   BJP ready to contest all seats in Karnataka The Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has indicated its willingness to fight the coming Lok Sabha elections on its own. It has, however, kept its doors open for forging an alliance with Ramakrishna Hegde's Lok Shakti. Needled by Gowda, Jalappa may quit JD Union Textiles Minister R L Jalappa has indicated that he may quit the Janata Dal, after the party's efforts for a patch-up between him and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda seemed to have failed. Jalappa, however, stated that he will take a final decision only after consulting the people of his constituency. BJP rejects Fernandes' demand for CMP The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has turned down Samata Party chief George Fernandes' demand for a common minimum programme (CMP) before the elections. BJP spokesperson Sushma Swaraj refuted the proposal for a CMP by stating that the BJP and its allies did not have a common front.   Ayodhya will be on BJP's manifesto, says party leader Bharatiya Janata Party's senior leader O Rajagopal yesterday declared that there was no question of compromising on the party's stand on building the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Article 370 of the Constitution and the Common Civil Code. And that these would be stated clearly in the BJP manifesto. RPI dispute delays Cong's seat strategy Internecine warfare between leaders of various factions of the Republican Party of India (RPI) appears to have held up the seat adjustments between the Congress and "third force" parties in Maharashtra. The various RPI factions and the Congress are awaiting the Election Commission's verdict on a dispute pertaining to the RPI's party elections before finalising seat-sharing arrangements.     Partyline   Opinion Poll ban will violate rights   Gopal Tiwari seeks Pune seat   Badal may field daughter in Tarn Taran   BJP ready to contest all seats in Karnataka   Baby John quits cabinet   TN actress Jayachitra seeks Cong ticket from Arakkonam   Ayodhya will be on BJP's manifesto, says party leader   Wary of BJP, Cong gives Nagpur seat to RPI   Needled by Gowda, Jalappa may quit JD   Cong for Central rule in Assam   Jolt for MP Congress, ex-minister joins BSP   Mahajan-Munde build anti-Purohit lobby   `Money-bags' backing BJP, alleges Surjeet   Kanshi Ram's move makes Hoshiarpur Cong split inevitable   Dal awaits signal from DMK-TMC   Cong to ensure employment for all, says Manmohan Singh   BJP-RSS combine politicising Sivagiri issue   BJP, JD want poll schedule shortened   RPI dispute delays Cong's seat strategy   Chacha preempts Sonia, gifts Lok Sabha ticket to Dhawan   Meet the greatest land-grabber among all parties, the Congress   Amethi for Sonia, Rae Bareli for Priyanka, say UP Congmen   BJD wants majority of Orissa seats   BJP rejects Fernandes' demand for CMP   Mayawati applies brake to Laloo's secular front plan   CAT says no to Cabinet secy's extension