Pawar-Sonia parleys crucial to government formation
Sharad Pawar yesterday said he expected the ongoing problem in the Congress with regard to cross voting during the Rajya Sabha elections to be settled without much ado once he had returned to New Delhi. Pawar described as "humbug" the efforts of his detractors to implicate him and his supporters in the defeat of Ram Pradhan.

Suspended BJD men write to Vajpayee
In a new twist to the political drama in the Biju Janata Dal, the five suspended MLAs yesterday shot off a letter to Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, requesting him to order a CBI inquiry into allegations of cross-voting through use of money during the recent Rajya Sabha elections. In view of the present allegations and counter allegations of cross-voting (through) the use of money power, confining MLAs in hotels and taking them on pleasure trips, makes it a fit case for a CBI inquiry.

Digvijay offers to face CBI inquiry
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh has offered to face a CBI inquiry if the Lokayukta felt there was a need for it. He said that the Lokayukta had already investigated (corruption charges) and cleared him.

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