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 02 March 1998   Alleged DMK supporters ransack Tamil daily office The office of the popular Tamil daily Dinamalar was ransacked by a 60-member armed gang in the early hours of the day yesterday. The gangsters stormed into the office after assaulting a security guard and hurling petrol bombs, heavily damaging the electrical fittings and fire extinguishers.   Pak headcount despite fears and objections The much-awaited population census finally gets underway in Pakistan today amidst apprehensions that its findings may dramatically change power equations in the country. The Nawaz Sharif government decided to go ahead with the 16-day exercise after making two major compromises despite objections raised by several quarters. Counting begins today, first result by the morrow With the Election Commission streamlining the counting process in New Delhi and four of the smaller constituencies, the first of the results to the Lok Sabha polls should be available by the early hours of Tuesday. Exit polls give a `hung' verdict Exit polls telecast only served to compound the suspense over the results of elections '98: The two post-poll surveys on Doordarshan and TVI gave confoundingly divergent predictions. If TVI's forecast was good news for the Congress and caused gloom in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Doordarshan's predictions had the reverse effect on both parties. Neither the Congress nor the BJP (with allies) are expected to be close to a majority.   Informal moves afoot to keep BJP at bay Informal moves were afoot yesterday to cobble a non-BJP government in the event of a hung verdict, as predicted by two exit polls, even before start of counting of votes in the Lok Sabha elections. The LC spectre continues to haunt Kalyan ministry UP Chief Minister Kalyan Singh's worries have begun with a struggle within the Loktantrik Congress. LC leader Naresh Agarwal is putting pressure on Kalyan to drop two LC ministers, Harishanker Tiwari and Shyam Sundar Sharma.     Cong blasts DD's Exit poll   Deposit losers on the rise in MP elections   Cong to form Govt despite Naga protest   Gujarat records 55 pc polling amid stray cases of violence   Sena minister bullies officer on poll duty   Leaders unamused by DD's comedy show   Vote relaxation? Tomorrow's another day   Arrangements in place for counting   Queueless 55% polling   Baramati turnout poor   Largely peaceful polling in Pune   Khed polling patterns no different   Polls bring festive touch to red light areas   Counting for LS, Assembly seats begins today   High turnout worries Congress in HP