Ceasefire extended; Naga-Govt talks soon
The Centre and the main Naga insurgent group have decided to extend their ceasefire for another three months and also begin "political discussions" for bringing peace in the region. The Home Ministry announced yesterday the Government and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) had `mutually decided' to extend the nine-month ceasefire.
Samata MPs display leanings towards RJD
The Samata Party, with its 12 MPs in the Lok Sabha, seems headed for a crisis of sorts as about half of them are holding secret parleys with Rashtriya Janata Dal President Laloo Prasad Yadav. Over the past few days, Laloo is understood to have met senior leaders Abdul Ghafoor, Prabhunath Singh, Haridwar Singh and Shakuni Choudhary -- all Samata MPs from Bihar.
AP power reform bill passed amid bedlam
The contentious Andhra Pradesh Electricity Reforms Bill was passed by the Assembly yesterday after the entire Opposition was suspended from the House for stalling the proceedings even as they registered their protest against the reforms. The Bill seeks to bring about radical changes in the power sector including reorganisation of the AP State Electricity Board.
No tie-up on cards for Karnataka council polls
With all parties aiming at the seventh seat of the biennial elections to the council from the Legislative Assembly on May 8, there is little scope for the so called alliance between parties in Karnataka.
Hemananda may head Orissa Cong unit
With Orissa Chief Minister J B Patnaik about to be replaced as the Pradesh Congress Committee chief, the air dashing of Deputy Chief Minister Hemananda Biswal to New delhi yesterday has assumed significance. Biswal, a tribal leader, is most likely to succeed Patnaik as the party chief of the state.
Parties failed to contain caste conflicts: TMC
Tamil Maanila Congress president G K Moopanar on Tuesday asserted that it is not necessary that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Government at the Centre and the DMK government in Tamil Nadu should have cordial relationship to effectively deal with terrorist activities that arose out of religious fundamentalism in the state.
