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Politics Business Expressions General Sports Leisure States 04 January 1998   EC likely to review poll schedule The Communist Party of India (CPI) has joined the ranks of political parties which have voiced apprehensions about the six-day long intervals between the polling days for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The numerous complaints from political parties about the 21-day long election schedule has forced the Election Commission to re-examine the same.   Cong strikes alliance with Prakash Ambedkar's RPI The Congress' attempts to forge regional alliances met with the first success on Friday night. The Congress forged an alliance in Maharashtra with a faction of the Republican Party of India (RPI) led by Prakash Ambedkar. The way for the Congress-RPI alliance was paved when the state Congress decided to give up its claim on 15 seats in favour of other parties. Wary of EC, CM sticks to moral code Government work in Maharashtra has virtually halted due to the Sena-BJP government's ultra-cautious stance on complying with the model code of conduct. The state government has also ordered all departmental heads to ensure that the code of conduct is not violated by any of the officials. Hegde to announce Lok Shakti poll pact on Jan 9 Lok Shakti president Ramakrishna Hegde said that he would announce whether his party would forge an alliance with the Congress or the Bharatiya Janata Party on January 9. Hegde, who is scheduled to hold talks with both the parties, also averred that his party would retain its identity and not merge with any political outfit.   Laloo's front yet to take shape Former Bihar chief minister Laloo Prasad Yadav is sparing no efforts in his attempt to create a anti-Bharatiya Janata Party, non-United Front for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. Laloo yesterday met Rashtriya Janata Party president and former Gujarat chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela to this end. One for the Cong; SJP man defects Against the general tide prevailing in the political scenario nowadays, a member of another party has joined the Congress. Former Union minister Bhakta Charan Das quit the Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP) and joined the Congress, stating that the Congress was the only party capable of fulfilling public expectations.     Cong strikes alliance with Prakash Ambedkar's RPI   Pawar wins over Chavan for smooth ticket distribution   Hegde to announce Lok Shakti poll pact on Jan 9   One for the Cong; SJP man defects   Partyline   Sena seeks to yoke Sharad for better harvest   Advani sees South warming up for the BJP wave   CPM to go soft on Congress, the lesser evil   Water your roots well, Karunakaran tells UDF   Dhawan's ticket annoys Sonia   EC likely to review poll schedule   "Ritual" in Meenatai's memory becomes a "moral" dilemma   Laloo's front yet to take shape   BJP's sneha sammelan turns sour; workers rough-up Kirit Somaiyya   Punjab seeks more forces for LS polls   Vajpayee's "liberal law" thesis on gender concerns may irk allies   Wary of EC, CM sticks to moral code