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JANUARY 18
Empty coffers threaten Sonia's campaign
Her hefty tour bills have added to the worries of a virtually bankrupt Congress
party. On Friday, Sitaram Kesri convened an unusual meeting of top Congress leaders to chalk out a strategy to tackle the grave funds crunch.
Priyanka may contest from Amethi
Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav seems keen on extending her support.
'Muslims will not vote for Congress'
Though the party has promised to create a ministry for the minorities and provide them with job reservations, few Muslims seem to be convinced.
Former Congressmen feel stifled in BJP
Three weeks after they flocked to the party, some former Congressmen have been left in the lurch by the saffron leadership.
Sonia's charisma sways Congress in Kerala
Former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's widow Sonia has conclusively demonstrated her charisma, at least among Congressmen, when she presided over a mammoth rally at the Marine Drive promenade yesterday in Kochi.
'Is fighting corruption indiscipline?'
"It is the largest scam in independent India,'' Banwarilal Purohit, Nagpur MP in the 11th Lok Sabha, reiterates his allegations against BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan.
'I never wanted to compromise on my principles'
Gulzarilal Nanda, who passed into the ages on Thursday, was one of the most unusual of men as Vaihayasi P Daniel discovered when she met him in Ahmedabad sometime ago.
BJP, SP gain as panic spreads in Congress, BSP
Come election time, and every party worth its name in Uttar Pradesh begins wooing members of rival groups. But never was the activity as intense as it is this year.
'I find politics in India today confusing, but not hopeless'
'My brother had to keep so many diverse forces and it is to his credit whatever you may say he acted like a gentleman...' 'Whenever I think about Husain I rather feel sorry for him. Such sorrow comes when you witness a tragedy and a tragedy is always of a great man...' Artist Satish Gujral tells the Rediff Chat.
No change in policy towards India, Pakistan
''Nothing has changed,'' said state department spokesman James
P Rubin, when asked whether the postponement of Clinton's visit to the region indicated a policy review.
Jnanpith for Ali Sardar Jafri
He is the third Urdu writer to be thus honoured -- Firaq Gorakhpuri (1969) and Qurratulain Hyder (1989) being the other two.
A quieter way of battling AIDS
The Naz project takes up the cause of the HIV-afflicted south Asians in Britain
Jammu and Kashmir: 27 assembly segments declared'hypersensitive'
Karnataka: Jalappa quits Janata Dal, to join Congress
Kerala: CPI announces 4 names
for LS poll
Maharashtra: Kalmadi to begin campaign on Sunday
Maharashtra: Sena undecided about Seshan
JANUARY 17
Crowd cheers though Sonia takes the beaten track
Just her third political speech. And former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's widow Sonia seems to have already run out of issues which would catch her rivals and the media napping.
Congress leaders in Kerala unanimous in support of Sonia
She flayed communalism, attacked weak leadership, but named no one other than her late husband whom she extolled.
No compromise on CMP, Left promises
The common manifesto, which the Left Front has brought out, is
an indicator of the major role it would play in rectifying
the UF's mistakes. It frowns on public sector disinvestment, privatisation of insurance companies, foreign investment and import liberalisation.
MS is happy in her sadness
M S Subbulakshmi, who on Wednesday became the first musician to get the Bharat Ratna, is sad that her husband and mentor T Sadsivam is not around to share the happiness.
'I was not disappointed with the BJP leadership'
Rajni Patil, the BJP MP from Beed who left the party this week, in candid conversation.
Tushar Gandhi takes the plunge into politics
The Mahatma's descendant becomes Samajwadi Party candidate to fight the killers of his great-grandfather, "who I now see in the form of the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP combine in Maharashtra."
BJP, Congress use Sivagiri
issue to trouble LDF in Kerala
The agitation against the government's takeover of
the Mutt is likely to cut into the LDF votebank.
BJP heading for comfortable majority in Gujarat assembly poll: CMS
According to the poll conducted by the independent Centre for
Media Studies, the BJP can expect to win between 110 and 120 seats in the
182-member assembly by collecting a little over 39 per cent of the
votes.
'Stability means the basic needs of people'
Dr Vara Vara Rao, ideologue of the outlawed People's War Group, on the issues that confront candidates and the electorate.
Andhra Pradesh: 'BJP desecrates Bible, attacks pastors'
Andhra Pradesh: Congress capable of taking on Telugu Desam by its horns says Vijayabhaskara Reddy
Assam: Four DD officials arrested
Assam: Ruling alliance announces four candidates
Bengal: BJP, Trinamool finalise seat-sharing
Jammu and Kashmir: JD to contest all 6 seats
Karnataka: Hegde may not contest
Maharashtra: Janata Dal to support RPI
Maharashtra: Court order against illegal constructions
JANUARY 16
Sonia dares govt to make Bofors papers public
''Five Opposition governments have come and gone, and still the
truth remains to be revealed,'' former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's widow thundered at Bangalore. ''As you all know, my husband was a victim of malicious and slanderous allegation in the Bofors case.''
Army shocked as govt cuts 50,000 jobs
Though the government promises to pump the money saved into modernising the force, several armymen are sceptical.
Former PM Gulzarilal Nanda dead
Last of the Gandhians passes away after a prolonged illness.
'Zero plus zero adds up to zero. The BJP plus anyone will always be zero'
'The BJP has no scruples, no principles, no ideology except to break up India. Its candidate for prime minister -- whatever he may say today -- has always been a rabid communalist,'' Union Defence Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav trains his guns on the saffron brigade in an exclusive interview to Pritish Nandy.
No truck with Congress, no way: Surjeet
Of course, the UF will come back to power, but there won't be any more playing along with the Congress. And the CPI-M will decide whether or not to join the government then, says the Marxist veteran.
Surjeet to mediate between JD, SP
The CPI-M leader has been asked to settle the Janata Dal-Samajwadi Pary seat-sharing row in Uttar Pradesh.
MP CM stalling BSP's tie-up with Congress: Kanshi Ram
The BSP chief said Digvijay Singh considered the BJP a lesser evil since that party did not believe in having a tribal chief minister.
UP council poll results boost BJP's morale
The BJP has secured 25 out of the 39 legislative council seats in the Uttar Pradesh. "This shows that we would achieve our target of 65 Lok Sabha seats in UP," said party's national executive member, Dr Jagdish Shettigar.
Kochi prepares for Sonia's coming
At the huge Marine ground in Kochi, Special Protection Group
personnel are supervising the erection of an 8-foot long, 12-foot wide stage -- this is from where Sonia Gandhi would address the Kerala
electorate on Friday.
RJD promises autonomy to CBI
Releasing the Rashtriya Janata Dal's election manifesto, former Bihar chief minister Laloo Yadav said his party would increase the plan outlay for agriculture and rural development.
Women face stiff battle in Lok Sabha
Forever on the fringes, women in all Lok Sabhas have always remained below eight per cent of the total House strength.
'We need to become a nuclear power'
Lieutenant General Kuldip Singh Brar (retired), one of the commanders of Operation Blue Star, on the issues that confront candidates and the electorate.
Gujral asks Bangla premier to extradite ULFA leader
Anup Chetia, the ULFA general secretary who was arrested by Interpol earlier this month, has several cases pending in India.
Darjeeling's toy train to be on world heritage list
The proposal will be sent to UNESCO's Delhi office by mid 1998.
Delhi: 52 injured in bus accident
Jammu and Kashmir: 11 top militants arrested
Maharashtra: Police nab Surla
Rajasthan: JD, SP fight over seats
JANUARY 15
Jittery Congress promises Muslims the moon
The Congress has drawn up a special package to woo the Muslims. Besides creating a ministry for the minorities, the party promises them reservations.
Bharat Ratna conferred on M S Subbulakshmi
The legendary Carnatic singer becomes the first musician to be thus honoured.
Congress clears 88 sitting MPs for poll
Narasimha Rao's name does not figure in the party's first list of candidates.
'Like a cursed machine the bus went on rolling over and over'
Kajal closed his eyes and tried to doze. But before sleep could come, there was a screech of tyres and he found himself crashing through the windowpane... A detailed report on Tuesday's bus accident in West Bengal that claimed 66 lives.
BJP list ignites AIADMK fury
The saffron party incurs AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha's displeasure by releasing a list of three Lok Sabha nominees without consulting her.
Rajni rides again!
The superstar was reluctant to make an endorsement, but he had no choice.
Illegal migrants will be thrown out: Vajpayee
Castigating the Assam tribunal entrusted with the task of identifying illegal immigrants, the BJP leader said the task could not be accomplished for several reasons, including the 'lack of will' on the state government's part.
'Vajpayee is the most rabid Hindutvawadi'
Mulayam Singh Yadav attacks the BJP and its leader.
Kesri, Sonia didn't have any fight: Arjun Singh
There wasn't any confrontation between the two about the leadership issue, claims Arjun Singh.
IUML torpedoes Congress move to befriend Kerala Muslims
The People's Democratic Party and the Indian National League are likely to remain untouchables in the state's bi-polar political scene.
'The new government must ensure some safeguards for Indian industry'
Swadeshi ideologue S Gurumurthy on the issues that confront the candidates and the electorate.
Senate report pulls up Clinton for ignoring China-Pak nuke deals
"Despite several instances of documented proliferation, including sale of nuclear technology and ballistic missiles to Pakistan, the Clinton administration has imposed only limited sanctions on specific firms rather than taking on the Chinese government,'' a report prepared by the Republicans said.
Delhi high court restrains parents from agitating against school fee hike
Coming out on the streets with posters and banners was going to harm their case, a division bench warned.
Devotee-turnout at Kumbh Mela crosses all expectations
Over 300,000 people took the customary bath amidst chanting of hymns by Wednesday noon at the Hari ki pauri.
Assam: Bodo militants gun down 16 villagers
Bihar: Shatru's wife may contest from Patna
Maharashtra: JD, SP fight as UF finalises 23 seats
Maharashtra: Salvi to contest from Thane
Uttar Pradesh: BJP sweeps council poll
JANUARY 14
''Laloo's alliance with Kesri's Congress implies it is an alliance of criminals'
'How long are we going to keep the Babri mosque as a kind of cut-off date to decide political activities in the country? How long are we going to treat any political party as an untouchable? Because touchability and untouchability have
to be decided by the people.' George Fernandes, in a fiery interview.
Cornered Kesri makes song and dance of 'minor developments'
The Congress president appears to be going out of his way to 'celebrate' minor developments as he feels threatened by Sonia's growing clout.
'Only this family can rule us. They are born to rule us'
The Sriperumbudur crowd, though unimpressive in numbers, was interesting in itself. It was a mela of people from all over, from Erode and Vandaloor, from Delhi and Bombay, from Italy and England. A mela wherein the blind faith of the poor rubbed shoulders with calculated
emotions. Shobha Warrier reports.
Industrialists steer clear as farmers dominate Lok Sabha
Fewer industrialists and more agriculturists are being drawn towards the Lok Sabha with the farmers having emerged as the consistent mainstay of the successive houses over the years.
RSS camp gets rousing reception
Saffron brigade show clout with an attendance of over 30,000 who later walked into Nagpur city.
Greek president supports Indian demand for permanent Security Council seat
''Given the important role India will play in future, it is
impossible to deny New Delhi its due role in world affairs,'' the president said during talks with Prime Minister I K Gujral.
Madhya Pradesh tops India's infant mortality list
It recorded an IMR of 97 per 100,000 against the national average of 72.
This was mainly due to the prevalence of malnutrition, inefficient
health infrastructure and low status accorded to female literacy in
the state.
A labour of art
Eight years it took to get it all perfect. Eight years in which experts worked diligently, with the very latest technology, to save the genius of Raja Ravi Varma and Amrita Sher Gil from the ravages of time.
Bengal: 66 drown as bus plunges into river
Gujarat: Atmaram's RJP to contest 80 assembly seats
Jammu and Kashmir: 18 hurt in two explosions
Madhya Pradesh: 4 killed, 6 injured in police fire
Madhya Pradesh: Kanshi bullies Arjun Singh into changing seat
Maharashtra: Seshan may not get Sena ticket
Maharashtra: Dalit poet Dhasal to contest from Pune
Orissa: BJD, BJP agree on seat sharing
Punjab: Congress vote bank shrinks; Akalis, BSP gain
Uttar Pradesh: Hardwar gears up for
Kumbh Mela
JANUARY 13
Sonia begins to assert herself
A day after she kicked off the Congress election campaign, Sonia Gandhi began showing signs that she is in full command of the party. On Monday, she released a signed statement in which she indirectly attacked party president Sitaram Kesri.
Advantage Advani
'Hindutva will be alive and potent as long as pseudo-secularists
will it to be -- it is up to them. Instability, corruption and the
fall in ethical standards are the issues plaguing India today --
and those are the ones we will embrace.' L K Advani tells Varsha Bhosle.
'Congressmen may wait on Sonia at will, but time and events won't'
She impressed the audience, though the crowd itself was not impressive -- but
how far can her maiden political speech at Sriperumpudur take Sonia Gandhi?
I have no intention of taking over the Congress leadership: Sonia
"I want to make it clear that I have no problem with the Congress president and I have no intention of taking over the leadership of the Congress party," Sonia Gandhi told Star News, in her first-ever television interview.
'Sonia is simply not seen as a foreigner'
'... or as an Italian; the notion being that the daughter-in-law is part of the husband's family and country. In this regard, there is absolutely no trace of xenophobia against her. For many, she is like a Mother to them!' The Sonia on the Stump Chat.
Advani to contest from Gandhinagar
Vajpayee will seek re-election from Lucknow, but Banwarilal Purohit is denied a seat. The BJP releases its first list of 202 candidates.
Gujral yields to pressure, won't campaign with Akalis
The prime minister gave an assurance to the UF's core committee that he will not share any political platform with the Akali Dal during electioneering in Jalandhar.
Fernandes will not join BJP govt due to AIADMK
There could be no compromise on corruption at any level, the Samata Party leader said.
Tripura CPI-M forces veterans to retire
In an unprecedented development, all the Marxist stalwarts in Tripura will remain out of the poll battle.
When India goes to vote
A ready reckoner to the election schedule.
CBI may land Deve Gowda, Ibrahim in trouble
The agency's war against a witness who turned hostile in the the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MPs bribery case may spell trouble for former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, Union Civil Aviation C M Ibrahim and former CBI director Joginder Singh.
Andhra Pradesh: Naidu 'breaks rules' to bring 'criminal' into Telugu Desam
Bihar: 4 gunned down near Darbhanga
Bihar: Cold wave continues
Jammu and Kashmir: 2 injured in Pak fire
Kerala: Revamped cashew procurement plan flies into big flak
Maharashtra: BJP, VHP criticise Thackeray's proposal
•Pay Rs 0, or else...
Prabhakar Joglekar of Pune is in a fix. He has to pay his telephone bill.
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