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Shahabuddin granted bail

     Patna: Patna High Court today granted bail to RJD Lok Sabha MP from Siwan Mohammed Shahabuddin in connection with the abduction and murder of CPI-ML leader Munna Choudhury. Justice Rajendra Prasad allowed Shahabuddin's application for bail in the case. The RJD leader was recently shifted to Beur jail from Siwan following the Election Commission's directive.

PM, Sonia to campaign in Jharkhand

     New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would be addressing public meetings in Jharkhand ahead of the third and final round of assembly polls in the state due on February 23. During his one-day visit to the state, Singh is expected to lure voters of the industrial cities of Dhanbad and Bokaro. Earlier, he had addressed meetings in Ranchi and the steel city before the second phase of assembly polls in the state. A total of 532 candidates are in the fray for the final phase due on February 23 when 28 constituencies would go for polling. The results of the 81-member assembly would be announced on February 27. With assembly elections entering the last phase from next week, the Congress appears to have decided to step on the pedal to redouble its efforts to win or at least cobble up a majority in both Bihar and Jharkhand. While the PM is campaigning in Jharkhand today, Congress president Sonia Gandhi will campaign in Bihar and in the Jharkhand constituencies of Bermo and Raj Mahal tomorrow.

     Of the 28 constituencies up for grabs, the Congress is contesting in 13 and out these 13, 10 are with Shibu Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and three with Laloo Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Of these 28 seats, 15 constituencies are reportedly dominated by the Santhals, who have traditionally backed Soren's JMM. But now with Stephen Marandi breaking away from the JMM, the split is likely to queer the political stakes in Jharkhand. At the same there is a rumour afloat that the BJP is extending support to some independents fielded by the Stephen Marandi group, which could eventually lead to a split in the Santhal votebank. The Congress is contesting in 10 non-tribal seats in Jharkhand. The party has decided to play down the import of current exit poll predictions, saying that it is only interested in bringing in a "secular" form of government in these two states.

Krishnamurthy is mentally disturbed, corrupt person: Chautala (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) TS Krishnamurthy is a "mentally disturbed and most corrupt" person who is playing in the hands of the Congress, Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala said this evening at his residence in New Delhi. Strongly reacting to the CEC's decision of holding the counting of votes on February 23 instead of Feb 27, Chautala said, "how can counting of votes be held when re-polling in four polling booths would be going on at the same time on Feb 23." He added that re-polling of as many as 4000 votes is going to be held in Beri Assembly constituency on Feb 23. Chautala further said that even the poster ballots would not reach back the Election Commission by February 23. "As per rule the EC itself counts the poster ballots on priority. In present circumstances, such ballots won't reach the EC by Feb 23.....it will create a serious logistical problem," he said. The CM said he would move to the judiciary against the CEC if the decision is not reversed. Taking a dig at Krishnamurthy, Chautala sarcastically said, "medically examination is done at the time recruitment of government employees......I think in case of Krishnamurthy such an examination was not done......he is a mentally unfit person who does not have administrative caliber required for such a high post." The visibly upset Chief Minster further said: "Krishnamurthy is working like a tool of the Congress in anticipation of getting a Rajya Sabha berth after his retirement like former CEC M.S. Gill." When asked why he had earlier welcomed the Election Commission's decision of preponing the counting of votes to February 23 from Feb 27, Chautala said, "yesterday I didn't have the idea that it would create such a serious trouble."

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