Sonia blocks RS route for losers
Congress president Sonia Gandhi means business. And she wants everyone to know it. In her first interaction with a select group of media persons over tea at Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptulla's residence on Saturday, Sonia set the cat among the pigeons in the Congress announcing that defeated candidates will not get party nominations in the coming Rajya Sabha (RS) elections.
Dismiss Rabri Govt in a month, demands SP
The Samata Party (SP) has urged Prime Minister A B Vajpayee to dismiss the Rabri Devi Government in Bihar by next month, suggesting that the Centre should not feel shy of using Article 356. Party secretary general Shivanand Tiwari stated that they would insist on sacking of the RJD regime after they submitted a charge-sheet against the Government to the Prime Minister and the President by April 20.
Badal hopes for fair deal from Vajpayee
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has stated that the state is expecting a fair deal from Prime Minister A B Vajpayee. He added that his Government will prepare a detailed note, listing the various economic and political issues to be discussed with the prime minister at a formal meeting.
No rift with Mamata over Front: BJP
The State BJP has denied any misunderstanding with the Trinamool Congress on the issue of Bangal Bachao Front. The West Bengal BJP chief and party's lone MP from the State, Tapan Sikdar has stated that he has been misquoted by a section of press to give an impression that he is against the Front.
"CBI didn't threaten me"
A key prosecution witness in the Rs 8.7 crore Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MPs bribery case on Friday told Special Judge Ajit Bharihoke at Vigyan Bhavan that he was never threatened by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to fabricate a case against the four JMM MPs.
Patel ministry expanded to appease Dalits
Karnataka Governor Kurshed Alam Khan has administrered oath of office and secrecy to D Manjunath and B Somashekar who in a minor expansion were inducted in the J H Patel ministry. Patel later stated that Somashekar would be incharge of Revenue while Manjunath had been alloted the Forest portfolio. With their induction the strength of the ministry has risen to 40.
