Pawar’s NCP set to part ways with Congress?

It may well be a pressure tactic, but the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is sending out a strong message to its ally at the Centre, the Congress, by announcing that it plans to team up with the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala for assembly polls. Party members allege that the Congress has not given it space in the political landscape, hence the decision. “We would like to be with the Congress but...

People confused over Maya’s stand on price rise issue

Is she in some dilemma or is it a strategy? BSP supremo and chief minister Mayawati’s flip-flop stand on price hike has left people confused. On Monday, her government curbed with iron hand the Bharat Bandh called by the opposition parties against increase in petrol prices. But on Tuesday, on the same issue her party held statewide protest-cum-public meetings. This time, the state machinery went all out to...

NCP Pune unit demands Ratnakar Mahajan’s expulsion

Condemning NCP leader Ratnakar Mahajan’s view advocating the party’s merger with Congress, the NCP Pune unit has passed a resolution demanding his expulsion. “Mahajan’s statement is a result of his personal frustration following failure to get a certain post. He has lost touch with the NCP grassroot workers and has no support from party ranks”, party spokesman Anukush Kakde said on...

Sonia lays foundation of Rohtang tunnel near Manali

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who is also heading the National Advisory Council, on Monday laid the foundation of the 8.8-km-long Rohtang tunnel at Dhundi near the famous tourist resort of Manali. While addressing a public gathering at Solang Nallah later, Ms. Gandhi said the idea of the tunnel was conceived by late Rajiv Gandhi and even the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, during his regime, ...

Cong divided on fuel price rise issue

Creating a quite flutter in the Congress headquarters on Monday, Anil Shashtri, editor of the party’s mouthpiece Sandesh, said that the government’s decision to raise fuel prices would be ‘disastrous for the common man’.Shashtri, who is also a special invitee to the Congress working committee, put his view on Twitter as well, knowing fully that such a direct engagement with the people cost his fellow...

Treat power-cut complaints seriously: Sheila to discoms

Responding to the number of complaints at the Chief Minister’s Office regarding power-cuts, Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday told the distribution companies (discoms) “to act swiftly on powercut complaints and not to take (them) lightly”. With most power-cuts blamed on technical faults, Dikshit also urged the discoms to find a viable solution to fix such local faults. “There is ample power in the Capital to meet...

Govt has worked hard to fulfil mandate to govern people: Sonia Gandhi

Congratulating prime minister Manmohan Singh and UPA allies for completing one year in office, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has said the government has worked hard to fulfil the mandate to govern the people. In her ‘Letter to Congress persons’ in the latest issue of party mouthpiece Congress Sandesh, Gandhi said, “I would like to congratulate prime minister Manmohan Singh and all our UPA allies...

India to turn heat on China-Pakistan nuclear deal

With US and other members of the Nuclear Supplies Group appearing unlikely to block China’s attempt to reward Pakistan with nuclear reactors, India has decided to work on its own to organize resistance to the Beijing-Islamabad deal. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will use a bilateral meeting with Canadian PM Stephen Harper this weekend to convey “concerns” about China’s proposal to build new...

Congress rejects allegations against Rajiv govt. on Bhopal

Congress has termed as “outrageous” and “ridiculous” the allegations that Rajiv Gandhi government had assured “safe passage” to Union Carbide Chief Warren Anderson before he came to India in the aftermath of the deadly 1984 Bhopal gas leakage that killed thousands. “There is absolutely no evidence of any kind whatsoever direct or indirect to support this completely outrageous and ridiculous ...

Cong seeks reply from party’s UP chief, but rules out sacking

Congress president Sonia Gandhi has expressed deep pain and anguish over events in Uttar Pradesh, involving party state chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi. The congress, expressing regret over the statements made by the party leader, has said that it will seek explanation from Joshi after she is out of jail. However, the party has also said that there is no question of her removal from the party till she replies. Joshi, the...