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Ex-BSP leader Rashid Alvi joins Congress

          New Delhi: Former leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Rashid Alvi joined the Congress this morning after discussions with the party president Sonia Gandhi Talking to reporters after the meeting, Alvi said that it would be his endeavour to strengthen the secular credentials of the nearly 120-year old party. Alvi, who was the leader of BSP parliamentary party in the 13th Lok Sabha, was expelled last month after he accused BSP president Mayawati of working under the pressure of the BJP and taking bribes for allotting party tickets.

Chautala appoints new Haryana police chief (Go To Top)

         Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala today announced that BR Lall would take over as the new police chief of the state. Lall, an IPS officer of the 1967 batch, temporarily replaces the state's incumbent Director-General of Police Mohinder Singh Malik, who has gone on a month's leave after the Election Commission raised objections to his helping his wife, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls. The Election Commission, which was at loggerheads with Chautala over the issue last week, has cleared Lall's appointment. The Election Commission had directed the state government to transfer Malik to a post not connected with the election work, as his wife Krishna Malik is the ruling INLD candidate from the Sonepat parliamentary constituency. Chautala had initially declined to transfer Malik, but then when matters appeared to be coming to a head, Malik proceeded on leave to avoid further controversy.

Boycott by rebels hits electioneering in Manipur (Go To Top)

          Imphal: A rebel boycott call in the insurgency- racked Manipur is forcing many candidates to opt out of the polls. The separatist guerrillas have also threatened to attack candidates and campaigning party workers. Earlier this week they also rejected an offer by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to make peace and lay down arms. Paratroopers have been rushed to rebel strongholds and police commandos are guarding vulnerable leaders and election rallies, but most say the arrangements are not enough. "My personal security cover has been strengthened from six security escort personnel to 15. Many of my party workers including the vice-president tendered resignation due to lack of adequate security," Thounaoujam Chaoba, president of the state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is in Opposition in the state, said.

          Officials, however, claim they are doing their best. Thirty- five companies of Central Reserve Police Force, 15 companies of Border Security Force, over 1800 civil police and 5000 armed personnel are being stationed across the region. "We are aware that there are some serious threats to the security of individual candidates, political candidates, personalties, and we are providing them extensive security coverage whether it is contesting candidates or others involved in electioneering or election campaigns," A.K Parashar, director general of police, Manipur, said. "Seeing the recent developments that are taking place, the situation is quite fluid and is changing from day to day. We have already identified the polling stations, which are categorised as hyper sensitive and sensitive. Obviously special efforts are being made to ensure that polling in the hyper sensitive booths can be conducted peacefully and in a normal manner," V. Chhibber, chief electoral officer of the state, said.

          The rebels accuse New Delhi of plundering the region's rich mineral resources and neglecting its economy and say only a referendum on the independence of tribal and ethnic groups could end the hostility. In the past as well, militants have opposed elections in the region, which is surrounded by China, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh, and is home to more than 200 tribal and ethnic groups. India's ruling coalition headed by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's BJP, called the elections six months early to capitalise on an economic boom and a fragile peace process with Pakistan. The nation goes to the polls this month with staggered voting in four phases between April 20 and May 10 to allow for redeployment of security personnel.

Rahul flays Mahajan remark (Go To Top)

          Amethi: Criticising BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan for his remark regarding educational qualifications of members of Nehru-Gandhi family, Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said it was reflective of BJP's growing frustration after witnessing the wave in favour of the Congress. "Mahajan should go to my college and find out my educational qualifications," Rahul said in reply to a question on the BJP leader's remark made yesterday at an election rally in Jaunpur. "The BJP knows that the Congress is going to come back to power," he said adding "sacred by this scenario the BJP is indulging in attacks on my family." Accusing the BJP of moral bankruptcy, Rahul said, "It (BJP) had now also lost faith in the judiciary."

Music director joins BJP (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: Bollywood music director Ravindra Jain switched from the Congress party to the BJP at a function here. The visually handicapped composer-singer-lyricist, famous for his devotional songs, turfed sides less than a month since he entered politics. Down south, film icon Rajnikant said he would vote for Prime Minister Atal Behari's ruling National Democratic Alliance, but would not campaign for any party. "Lal Krishna Advani has promised that he will solve the water crisis problem. I have a lot of belief in the (Prime Minister Atal Behari) Vajpayee government. I am sure they will make interlinking of rivers possible. Hence, my vote will be for the NDA (ruling National Democratic Alliance)," Rajnikant told reporters in Chennai, capital of Tamil Nadu. Vajpayee's BJP has an alliance with the state's ruling , the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Khazgham, led by J.Jayalalitha. Opinion polls predict an easy victory and a second term for the NDA while the Congress, in its worst-ever form, would face a drubbing.