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Politics Business Expressions General Sports Leisure States 10 February 1998   Kalyan Govt bows to EC diktat on minister The Uttar Pradesh government has reported compliance with the Election Commission order, debarring Programme Implementation Minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh from Pratapgarh district till the elections are over even as the minister has decided to challenge the EC's order in court.   Iraq defiant as support from Arabs mounts A possible military assault on Iraq seems inevitable as Baghdad yesterday defied a warning from the United States and its gulf ally, Saudi Arabia, of serious consequences if it did not comply fully with the UN resolutions. Meanwhile, opposition appeared to mount in the Arab world to any US-led strike on Iraq since it felt that the world community must not show double standards in its treatment of Baghdad. Sena-BJP Govt accused of plans to sell state land Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, Madhukar Pichad, has accused the Sena-BJP Govt of planning to sell government land worth Rs 22,000 crore in various parts of the state. Pichad said that the various plots being sold by the government included 41 acres of land belonging to the Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute in Nashik. Citizens seek power to veto poor quality politicians At a time when the electorate across the country bewails the lack of quality candidates in the forthcoming Parliamentary elections, the Majithia Foundation Trust has sent a letter to the President of India and the Election Commission, asking for the right to "veto" candidates unworthy of their vote.   Kanshi gets new punching bag, it's BSP When Kanshi Ram comes home to Punjab, his speeches are as vitriolic and venomous as ever -- but the target is often his own party, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). He uses even stronger words: `lepers', `useless bitch', he called his partymen in the midst of an election campaign in Punjab where the BSP is contesting in four seats in alliance with the Congress. He describes the BSP as a failed movement in Punjab and blames his partymen for his last-minute decision to "run away" from the contest in Hoshiarpur. RSS decides to back Kalmadi In a major political development, top Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) leaders have assured Pune Vikas Aghadi (PVA) candidate Suresh Kalmadi of full support in the election. Kalmadi is also said to have sought the blessings of RSS leaders saying that he would work to ensure that Atal Behari Vajpayee becomes the prime minister.     No deputy PM in BJP govt, says Advani   Sonia on offensive in TN, seeks clear mandate   Independent challenges Soz   One more quits Patel Cabinet, says Gowda "tormented" him   HC show-cause notice to key JMM witness   Assam voters are put off by more than ULFA   Cong fires musical missile at Sena-BJP   Few straight contests in State   A ghost comes crying for vengeance   JD begins to write epitaph for its last outpost   Laloo, Sharad...watch out for the third man   Kesri decided denial of ticket to Rao   Congress ready to accept UF support to form Govt   Dumped Cong leaders as crowdpullers   Advani as Atal's deputy doesn't enthuse parivar   Muslim community urged to give up fatwa politics   Dutt's special appearance fails to amuse Delhi crowd   Meanwhile, in...   Blair blasts "man without moral scruples"   Cops transferred on EC order