BJP meet lacking the fizz
Last fortnight's battering at the hands of its allies took the fizz out of the BJP's National Executive meet which began here on a subdued note yesterday. There was no euphoria, just anxiety, in the deliberations, setting a distinctly sombre tone for tomorrow's plenary session of the National Council at which outgoing party president L K Advani will hand over charge to his successor, Kushabhau Thakre.
Cong workers plan stir against MPCC chief
Congress party workers from Nashik and Aurangabad are planning to hold protests against Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Ranjit Deshmukh at the venue of the party's two-day convention scheduled to start here from May 5. Deshmukh's alleged dictatorial style of functioning has annoyed the party's office-bearers in Nashik and Aurangabad.
Congress meet to focus on farmers' suicides
The precarious state of the government's financial condition and the plight of the farmers are likely to dominate the state executive meeting of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee meeting slated for May 5 and 6 in Nashik.
Janata Dal shuns "tainted" Laloo to keep up a clean image
The Janata Dal and Left parties are in no mood to induct former Bihar chief minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Laloo Yadav into the United Front unless he is cleared of all the charges of corruption against him in the multi-crore fodder and bitumen scams. While Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Harkishen Singh Surjeet denied there was ever "any such proposal to allow Laloo Yadav to re-join the party," Janata Dal president Sharad Yadav was equally categorical.
BJP's Gopal Shetty is deputy mayor
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Gopal Shetty has been made deputy mayor, putting paid to the plans of Sardar Tara Singh of the same party, who was reportedly keen on the post. The announcement came even as Mayor Nandu Satam disclosed the names of the 11 members of the Council in the BMC -- nine are from the Shiv Sena and two from the BJP.
Sushma's husband to hold talks with Nagas
The Centre has appointed former Mizoram governor Swaraj Kaushal as its representative to conduct political negotiations with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah). The Government and the rebel group recently extended their nine-month cease-fire by another three months.
