Senior Congress leader and External Affairs minister, Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday confirmed the view of Congress that Lalu Prasad Yadav may not be a part of the next Government, should UPA come into power.

Mukherjee adressing a rally at Samastipur suggested that there was no surety over backing Manmohan Singh for Prime Minister. "Who will form the government? BJP, NDA, Third Front or Lalu," asked Mukherjee.

Lalu, who had annoyed the Congress on Saturday by charging it for complicity in the Babri Masjid Demolition, daring the PM to sack him right away.

Mukherjee then instantly reacted and claimed, "Leave alone forming the government, Lalu will find it difficult to become even a minister because he is with nobody." He also asserted that Lalu had deluded the trust of congress.

How ever, the Sources in Congress refused for any kind of an immediate plan to push Lalu out of the alliance, suggesting that Mukherjee's outbreak showed the heat of the election campaign.

Noted film director-turned politician and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) candidate from West Champaran district, Prakash Jha, is now in the eye of a storm. A Bihar Police team, led by West Champaran SP, KS Anupam, raided the offices of all three candidates from the constituency on Wednesday, of which Jha represents Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party. The raid resulted in a seizure of Rs.10.25 lakh in cash from Jha's office, while 38 people were detained. West Champaran goes to the polls on Thursday.

Interestingly, the raid on Congress candidate and brother-in-law of Lalu Yadav, Sadhu Yadav, as well as the BJP candidate, Dr Sanjay Jaiswal, did not result in any seizures. Four people were arrested from Sadhu Yadav's office.

Terming the raid as illegal, Prakash Jha told mediapersons that he was unaware of the provocation behind the raid. He said that the cash recovered from his office belonged to Maurya sugar mills, which he owns. He also said that the police also raided the mill's guest house adjoining his election office.

BJP candidate from Pilibhit, Varun Gandhi will file his nomination papers on Wednesday afternoon.

Varun is on a two week parole after being arrested under National Security Act (NSA) for his alleged hate speech and will be accompanied by his mother Menaka Gandhi during the filing of his nomination.

A family source said that Varun will file his nomination between 1 to 2 in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Tuesday laid downVarun Gandhi's request for transfer of Pilibhit District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police as also appointment of neutral observers.

Deputy Election Commissioner, R Balakrishnan said that the commission did not find a reason to transfer District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police. He further added that the poll panel's observers have always been neutral and critical events were tracked by videos.

Nationalist Congress Party chief, Sharad Pawar said that he did not consider himself in the race to be the country's Prime Minister,as the strength of his party did not permit him to handle a post of such a high responsibility.

I have made my position clear. Until we have the strength one should not even expect to lead the country. We have hardly contested 40 seats and it is not correct to expect such a high responsibility to run the country, he said.

Ambition is one thing but ground level reality is not conducive. There is no point in having illogical ambition, he said.

Pawar further added that Manmohan Singh can again emerge as the UPA's choice for the post of Prime Minister but the matter is not yet finalised. The Congress has proposed Manmohan Singh as PM. We would like to sit together in UPA and decide who should be the Prime Minister. Manmohan is the most esteemed person and he has been proposed by his party.

Unfortunately he is not the UPA candidate for PM. We have to conclude name after elections. It can be Manmohan Singh. Before accepting anyone there has to be a discussion, he said.

Pawar also refused that Jayalalitha had supported him for the post of Prime Minister. She just said that I had the capacity to work as a Prime Minister and nothing beyond this.

As the Sri Lankan army marches ahead to launch a 'final assault' against the rebel LTTE, politicians in Tamil Nadu are now trying to take the advantage of this situation and score political points.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK Chief, M Karunanidhi has called for a 12 hour strike in the state on Thursday to protest against the violence in Sri Lanka.

Karunanidhi asked the Centre to give a notice to Colombo to declare an "immediate and permanent ceasefire. Karunanidhi further added that the priority was not to impose a ban on the rebel LTTE but to save the lives of thousands of Sri Lankan Tamils.

The call for strike from Karunanidhi came hours after he had sent telegrams to Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and Pranab Mukherjee pressurizing India issues an ultimatum to Sri Lankan Government for quick ceasefire to save lakhs of Tamils.

Responding to Mayawati's allegation that the Election Commission has been working on the directions of Congress, the Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla on Tuesday disregarded her criticism and reminded her that she herself had appreciated the conduct of the Assembly polls in 2007.

After taking over as the new CEC, Navin Chawla said "Ms Mayawati herself had come to the Election Commission on a Sunday in 2007 and spent one hour with us. She congratulated the EC for conducting a free, fair and transparent election in the state."

Navin chawla further added that the UP elections were a watershed election and he din't wanted to say anything else.

Mayawati alleged that Navin Chawla and S.Y Quraishi were "active members of congress and under such conditions, free and fair elections are just not possible in the country".

Mayawati also said that EC officials are working on the directives of the congress and its allies. Also EC is trying to stop BSP from coming into power despite the fact that the party has support of people in its favour.

AIADMK supremo and the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu, J. Jayalalitha on Monday attacked United Progressive Alliance chief, Sonia Gandhi for her silence on M Karunanidhi's clear support for the outlawed Tamil Tigers, which was behind the assassination of her husband Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.

Talking to the media people J. Jayalalitha asked Why Sonia Gandhi is silent on the matter? Is she not the Congress president, is she not the widow of Rajiv Gandhi, is she not the chairperson of the UPA? Sonia Gandhi should come up with clear answers on these questions and must tell the nation what she feels about it, as Mr. Karunanidhi has given the statement. Also, she should tell the nation what she proposes to do about it, as the president of Congress and chairperson of UPA.

Jayalalitha reacted to what Karunanidhi told a news channel, that he would deeply regret if LTTE chief Prabhakaran is killed. He also added Prabhakaran is a good friend, and I am not a terrorist.

But Karunanidhi changed his statements soon after his remarks gave rise to a political storm. He said, LTTE did not start off as a terrorist group but has now become a terrorist organization.

The district administration of Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh has declined the permission of BJP Pilibhit candidate Varun Gandhi to address a rally at Kumarganj on April 21.

Confirming this denial of Faizabad district administration, the Press secretary of BJP's State unit Hero Bajpai said, a written permission had to be taken three days before an election meeting. Mr. Gandhi's programme was finalised by the party's local unit without taking the mandatory provision into consideration.

The rally would now be addressed by BJP MP from Gorakhpur, Yogi Aditya Nath in support of Faizabad party candidate Lalloo Singh.

The Chief Electoral Officer of U.P. Anuj Kumar Bishnoi said that Mr Gandhi, who is on parole till May 1, has to first inform the Pilibhit District Magistrate (DM) about his poll programmes.

UTTAR Pradesh chief minister Mayawati has earned herself some more fame – dubious fame at that, by featuring on the cover of Newsweek's latest edition, with parallels being drawn between her and US President Barack Obama - in their rise to political heights though belonging to the bottom of the social ladder.

While commenting her "suspiciously ostentatious fortune" and her "limited accomplishments" on behalf of the socially oppressed Dalits, whose cause she champions, the weekly has said her possible bagging the prime ministership would "ironically end up bolstering the caste system that has kept them (Dalits) in chains".

She would "likely be a highly divisive national leader - an anti-Obama - and not only domestically".

Mayawati became the chief minister of India's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh in 2007 on her own steam. She is now gunning for the country's top job, or even as king maker, after the parliamentary elections in India get over in May.

"Her supporters are trying to position her as India's answer to America's youthful black president," the weekly said.

It said the chances of her party actually winning a majority of the seats in parliament were unlikely. "But the likely outcome is that the two main parties, Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), will be forced to rely on coalitions. Mayawati's followers hope she'll emerge as kingmaker in the negotiations, with enough clout to grab the top job herself."

"There are indeed parallels between Mayawati and Obama. Like America's president, Mayawati is young - just 53 in a country where most political leaders are in their 70s. She is also an outsider who comes from a long-oppressed segment of society: the Dalits.”

"Mayawati is both a bigger underdog and a potentially bigger threat to the established order than Obama was. While he benefited from a first-class education, she grew up in a shantytown with eight brothers and sisters and attended poor state schools.

"Mayawati is both a bigger underdog and a potentially bigger threat to the established order than Obama was. While he benefited from a first-class education, she grew up in a shantytown with eight brothers and sisters and attended poor state schools.

"But unlike Obama, Mayawati has built her power on demagogic class warfare. As her national ambitions have grown, she recently began reaching out to upper-caste voters - but by playing on their fears of the upwardly mobile middle castes, not by appealing to their better, caste-free angels.

"She has accumulated a suspiciously ostentatious fortune, and is dogged by corruption charges. She is admired by many Dalits, but often more for her power and jewels than for her limited accomplishments on their behalf.

"Her victory, if it comes, may be seen as a great leap forward for India's oppressed - but, ironically, will end up bolstering the caste system that has kept them in chains.

"Mayawati would likely be a highly divisive national leader - an anti-Obama - and not only domestically."

The missing cousin of Maharashtra Union Industries Minister, Narayan Rane was found dead on Sunday in Sindhudurg district. Ankush Rane, Rane's cousin, was missing from Kankavli market since Friday when he was returning to his home in Varavde village after visiting Kankavli town.

Earlier, Narayan Rane alleged that the Shiv Sena MP, Sanjay Raut, who is managing his party's campaign in Sindhudurg abducted Ankush to intimidate voters. But, Shiv Sena denied the charge.

The director general of police, SS Virk said, From the preliminary information we have received, it seems that the body found near Kankavli is that of Narayan Rane's cousin Ankush. A case of murder has been registered and further investigations are on.

The Congress party had suspended Narayan Rane, former Shiv Sena leader, in December 2008 after the party overlooked him and appointed Ashok Chavan as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. The party president Sonia Gandhi took him back into the party in February 2009.

The Election Commission on Sunday has rejected the demand to disqualify the chairperson of United Progressive Alliance, Sonia Gandhi, as a member of Parliament for receiving a foreign award.

According to the sources, the Election Commissioners, Navin Chawla and SY Quraishi have overturned incumbent N Gopalaswami's view that an investigation is required to check the complaint against Sonia Gandhi.This view of EC's has been sent to the President, Pratibha Patil for a final decision.

The CEC wants an investigation into the complaint against Sonia Gandhi receiving the second highest civilian honour in Belgium, Order of Leopold. Sonia Gandhi was given this honour during her visit to Belgium in November,2006.

Following the satta market closely it is seen that chances of BJP leader, LK Advani to be the next Prime Minister is very less. The satta market of Rajasthan has not yet started betting for the post of Prime Minister, as there is no strong competitor for Manmohan Singh according to their speculations.

Advani does not stand as a PM while Manmohan Singh will become the PM again, says a leading Jaipur based bookie.

The betting meter indicates that the Indian National Congress is assumed to get about 135-137 seats for which the price is 65 paise return on every betted Rs 1. On the other hand, BJP is assumed to get around 125-127 seats, where the return is 60 paise.

According to them BJP will not cross 132 while Congress will not be able to cross 145 seats. But,it can change during the first week of May after the third phase and things will become more clear after the last phase and just before the counting begins.

According to some famous bookies of the state, the betting market is quite fluid for Lok Sabha elections 2009 and reliable trends will be seen during the first week of the next month.

The controversy emerged out of a petition from a Kerala lawyer who had sought the disqualification of Congress chief, Sonia Gandhi for accepting the Belgiam award.

The majority view will work in case there is a difference among the opinion of three commissioners, under the conduct of business rules in the EC. In this Belgiam honour case, the view of the two Election Commissioners may work over the CEC's view.

Sources said, Gopalaswami believed that there was a need for further investigation into Sonia Gandhi receiving the award. But Chawla and Quraishi believed that the investigation was complete and no further action was required.

The Chief Election Commissioner however confirmed that the issue was before the President. He said, "I do not want to say anything on this because this is a case on which the decision will be taken by the President. So until the decision is taken, there can be no discussion on this."

The plea cited Article 102(1)(d) of the Constitution, it states that anybody who owes allegiance to the Constitution of another country should be disqualified from the membership of Parliament.

The first phase of polling in 124 Lok Sabha seats has ended but the news is not entirely positive. There have been instances of violence in Naxal affected areas like Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhatisgarh while Kerala witnessed a higher polling turnout of 69%. The state that has 20 Lok Sabha seats and more than 20 million electorates had a single phase election this time.

In the northern states like Bihar, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa, Naxals violence disrupted the polls. Election vehicles were damaged while voting machines were set to fire and a large number of voters were attacked.

Reports said, it was apparent that the Naxals had clearly planned to disrupt the polls.

In Jharkhand, the naxals attacked badly leaving 7 security men dead and several others injured. A land-mine was also found in Hazaribag, the Yashwant Sinha's constituency. They looted voting machine in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh. Naxals opened fire, blew up two vehicles and planted a bomb in the state.

In Orissa, voting had to be stopped in three polling stations after the Maoists set fire to two of them and looted the EVMs.

The Election commissioner S Y Qureshi on Thursday evening said,“This phase was supposed to be the most difficult. We made sure that the Naxal infested region was in the first phase, so that longer period can be given for forces to mobilize.”

After all these incidents of terror, the country records about 60 percent of the 14.30 crore votes in the first round of Lok Sabha polls.

A week after withdrawing the candidatures of Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler, who are accused in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Congress on Friday announced their replacement.

According to reports, the party has given tickets to Sajjan's brother Ramesh Kumar from the South Delhi constituency and J.P. Aggarwal, the president of Delhi Pollution Control Committee from North East Delhi seat.

The decision of the party came just a day before the last day of filing nomination for the LS elections. The announcement of Congress has ended up all the speculation over the names of candidates who were in race to replace the two senior leaders.

Announcing its support for the Congress party on Thursday, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee appealed to all the Sikhs of India to vote in favor of Manmohan Singh, a Sikh, who will be the prime minister again if the party forms its government at the center.

The decision was taken by the DSGPC in a meeting at the Rakab Ganj gurdwara in Delhi that was attended by more than 300 representatives of various gurudwaras across the country.

The president of DSGP committee, Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna said, "We held discussions with members of various gurdwaras across the country and decided to support Congress as the party for the first time made a Sikh the country's prime minister. We want Manmohan Singh to get a second term as the prime minister."

The committee has also written a letter of support to the congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

The party also hinted that they are satisfied with Congress leaders Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar decision of withdrawing their candidatures for the Lok Sabha elections to be held in Delhi, who are accused of involvement in 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

However, another Sikh religious body -- the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC)-- disapproved the move and accused DSGPC for playing politics.

SGPC member Kuldeep Singh Bhogal quoted, "The DSGPC is misleading Sikhs in the country and we appeal to them not to vote for the Congress party. The party was responsible for massacre of Sikhs in 1984 and we will never forgive them for it."

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Mayawati on Thursday said that the BJP leader Varun Gandhi should better behave like a gentleman otherwise he himself will be responsible for the consequences.

Varun Gandhi, who had been in Etah jail for the last three weeks walked out on parole on Thursday evening.

Mayawati had played a major role in the development of National SecurityAct (NSA) against Varun.

Speaking to media persons in the state capital, Mayawati said, "If Varun Gandhi, despite giving an undertaking behaves like Kalyan Singh, then strict action will be initiated against him."

Kalyan Singh was the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh when the demolition of Babri Masjid took place.

Sources said, huge crowd of BJP supporters turned outside the Etah jail to welcome their hero. Varun is likely to file nomination from Pilibhit on April 21.

Rashtriya Janata Dal chief and Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav on Thursday demanded re-polling in many booths of Saran (Chhapra) parliamentary constituency claiming that socially underprivileged sections like Dalits were not allowed to vote and those who attempted to do so, were attacked by upper caste voters.

Talking to media persons, Lalu Yadav alleged BJP rival Rajiv Pratap Rudy and his supporters saying, "They tried to disrupt polling in many areas of Saran. They prevented Dalits and other lower caste people from exercising their franchise in Lal Bazar and many other areas."

Yadav also blamed Nitish Kumar saying, the BJP supporters even tried to block roads and threaten the Dalits and poor people not to vote. "There were three cases of attacks as well. It is a failure of the Nitish Kumar Government, as they failed to ensure free and fair polls."

Expressing confidence that RJD-LJP will win all the 13 seats that went on poll on April 16, Lalu Yadav quoted, "I do not think there is any seat where we are losing. We will win all the seats that went to polls today."

Mr Yadav had requested the District Collector to order re-polling in all the areas where people were prevented from voting. He also demanded action against the guilty.

Varun Gandhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Pilibhit, who had been detained under the National Security Act for his alleged hate speeches, was released from Etah jail on Thursday after the Supreme Court granted him two-week parole earlier in the day.

Varun walked out of jail in the evening to a rousing welcome from party supporters who were present outside Etah jail. His mother and BJP leader Maneka Gandhi was there to receive him.

The Supreme Court had earlier ordered Varun's "forthwith release" for two weeks to enable him to file his nomination for Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit Lok Sabha constituency and campaign for the polls.

Within hours, Maneka, who has represented Pilibhit in the Lok Sabha five times, rushed to Etah from neighbouring Aonla constituency where she was campaigning for herself.

Maneka, a former central minister, was ushered inside the jail premises along with her personal aide, party workers waiting outside tried to keep up the tempo by intermittently raising slogans of "Varun Gandhi Zindabad" and "Maneka Gandhi Zindabad".

THE grand electoral process for the Lok Sabha has begun on Thursday morning as 124 constituencies spread over 15 states and two Union Territories have begun casting their votes in the first phase of polls.

Amid widespread apprehensions of terrorists trying to disrupt the election process, there has been unprecedented levels of security in all states where elections are on. Naxalites on the other hand have called for a boycott of the elections.

Among those who are in the fray for the first round of polling, include Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, Praful Patel, Jaipal Reddy and Renuka Chowdhury. The first phase is very crucial and the toughest from the security point of view as many Naxal-hit constituencies in Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar along with parts of North-East and Jammu and Kashmir are going to polls.

States going to polls include Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jammu and , Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Maghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, UP, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshdweep.

The other important candidates in fray in the first phase include senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former union minister Murli Manohar Joshi, Telangana Rashtra Samithi's (TRS) K Chandrasekhar Rao, actor Vijayasanthi, NTR's daughter D Purandeswari and former union minister B Dattatreya.

While all 20 seats in Kerala, 11 in Chhattisgarh and two in Meghalaya would go to polls in a single phase on Wednesday, polling would be held in 13 out of 40 seats in Bihar, 16 out of 80 in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra 13 (48), Andhra Pradesh 22 (42), Jharkhand six (14), Orissa 10 (21), Assam three (14), Arunachal Pradesh two (two), Manipur one (two) and Jammu and Kashmir one (six).

The lone seats in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Mizoram and Nagaland would also be covered.

In what seems a dubious first for the BJP, its Prime Ministerial candidate, LK Advani, was "hit" by a slipper on Thursday, putting him a select club with Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Congress candidate Naveen Jindal.

A BJP worker, Pavan Agarwal, threw a slipper at Advani at an election rally in Madhya Pradesh, apparently protesting against having been removed his post due to "groupism".

Responding to the incident, BJP leader Balbir Punj said, "We don't know if he is a BJP worker."

THE Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the release of Bharatiya Janata Party's candidate for Pilibhit, Varun Gandhi, on parole for two weeks. Varun, is currently lodged in Etah Central Jail under the National Security Act for making allegedly inflammatory speeches.

The Supreme Court has asked Varun to give a new undertaking to the Superintendent of Police at Etah as the court was not satisfied with the contents of the earlier undertaking given by him promising not to give provocative speeches that violated the Constitution or led to any law and order problem.

The BJP candidate Varun Gandhi will be released from Etah jail on Thursday evening. Earlier, the government of Uttar Pradesh arrested and later booked him under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) in March for "inciting violence".

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday hinted that the Congress as well as the UPA would keep doors open for a tie-up with Left parties and other allies, saying he has had a good experience working with all of them. He, however, expressed confidence that the Congress would be able to form the government with its allies.

At an interaction with the members of the Editors' Guild of India, Mr Singh was asked whether his party would take support of the Left parties in forming the government. He replied, "An alliance with Left parties is possible only after the elections. Circumstances will decide if we go with the Left."

The Left parties responded saying they were ready but only if the India-US nuclear deal was withdrawn.

Earlier, the Prime Minister had said he regretted parting ties with the Left over the nuclear deal. Left was not part of UPA but was providing parliamentary support to the government.

Reacting to this comment, CPI(M) member and a senior trade union leader MK Pandhe quoted, "The Congress will have to withdraw nuclear deal first. Only then we can discuss about a post-poll understanding."

He added, "Manmohan Singh became the prime minister as we extended support. We withdrew the support as they signed the nuclear deal with the US. There is no point of even a discussion on a post-poll alliance till they withdraw the nuclear deal."

Talking to mediapersons, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja accused that the Prime Minister's speech in Kerala was against the Communists. The Left parties forged an alliance with the government on the basis of certain policies. "It is a question of those policies."

Suspected naxalites opened their account in disrupting the election process, when they blew up a polling booth in Gaya on Thursday morning. Elsewhere, one homeguard personnel was killed as naxalites attacked BankeBazaar's Sindhpur area in Gaya.

Polling booths in Dantewada and Narainpur regions in Chhattisgarh were also Attacked, triggering blasts and exchange of fire with security forces as polling began in the state on Thursday.

According to police officials, naxals struck at Maroki, Mangnar and Jangampal in Dantewada area, about 350 kms from Raipur and in Nernar, Sonapal and Karmari in Narainpur region, around 250 kms from the Chhattisgarh capital, Raipur.

Naxalites are launching preplanned attacks in Jharkhand, Orissa, Chattisgarh and Bihar states to disrupt first phase of LS polls, sources said.

THE Election Commission said on Tuesday that the electronic media cannot telecast anything related to elections which can influence voters in areas where polls are to take place, 48 hours preceding voting.

The Election Commissioner said, TV channels were barred from telecasting poll-related programmes like interviews, discussions and poll analyses and surveys that could influence voters 48-hour before polling day.

In a separate order issued under section 126 of the Representation of People's Act that prohibits displaying any election matter on television or any related medium 48 hours before poll, EC has also banned dissemination of results of opinion and exit polls by the media. The gag on electronic media is seen as unsuitable for multi-phase elections as well as innocent of the ways the media functions.

The official said, "the rule applies even to national channels. During this period, national channels are not allowed to telecast such programmes about Andhra Pradesh. Even animation programmes that could influence voters should not be screened."

Mr Rao explained that with the first phase polling scheduled for April 16, TV channels would not even be allowed to air poll-related analyses of seats going to the polls on April 23. Failure to comply would mean imprisonment up to two years or fine or both.

Uttar Pradesh police on Tuesday registered an FIR against Bollywood star and Samajwadi party general-secretary Sanjay Dutt for making provocative speeches during one of his rallies at Dakhsintola in Mau district.

According to sources, the FIR was lodged against Sanjay Dutt for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by making communal remarks in an election rally.

Dutt had allegedly said, Jab mai police custody me tha to police wale mujhe third degree dete the. Wo mujhe marte the aur kehte the ki tumhari maa Musalman hai (When I was in police custody I was given third degree by them because my mother was a Muslim).

Dutt was in the city to campaign for Samajwadi Party nominee, Arshad Jamal Ansari, who is contesting from Ghosi parliamentary seat.

Trouble brews in Praja Rajyam Party due to the resignation of senior party leaders, lack of transparency being one of the major reasons. This time the party's spokesperson and founder member, Dr Parakala Prabhakar was the latest to call in quits.

Dr. Parakala Prabhakar further quoted that PRP is no more a party rather it has become a company that is managed by its owners.

Prabhakar's resignation is the second blow for PRP within a week after the resignation of ex-vice president Anjaneya Reddy earlier, as he was not happy with the tickets allotment scenario.

Prabhakar's resignation is the second blow for PRP within a week after the resignation of ex-vice president Anjaneya Reddy earlier, as he was not happy with the tickets allotment scenario.

Aravind quoted, "Apart from Anjaneya Reddy the rest of the people who have quit the party have come here on a purpose and the purpose is not justified so they are walking out."

PRP chief Chiranjeevi said that resignation of a person doesn't make any difference. He also insisted that these are initial jerks.

The party claims that it has allotted maximum number of seats to the backward category than others. But the increasing number of resignations are raising concerns over the party's principles of social justice.

"PRP chief will have to take prompt action before it's too late", supporters said.

BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Pilibhit, Varun Gandhi, has submitted an undertaking, as suggested by the Supreme Court, promising not to make any more provocative statements that will disturb communal harmony. Varun has been detained under National Security Act since March 29.

District Magistrate Guarav Dayal said that the affidavit submitted by Varun stated that his actions were not in violation of the Constitution and he has obeyed the law.

Talking to mediapersons, Dayal said, the BJP candidate, who moved the Supreme Court seeking relief to allow him to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Pilibhit, promised not to give provocative speeches that violate the Constitution or lead to any law and order problem.

Talking to mediapersons, Dayal said, the BJP candidate, who moved the Supreme Court seeking relief to allow him to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Pilibhit, promised not to give provocative speeches that violate the Constitution or lead to any law and order problem.

Varun's lawyer Prashant Singh Atal said, Today ( on Tuesday) his maternal aunt Ambika Shukla met him at the Etah jail, where he signed the affidavit."

For the first time ever in Lok Sabha elections, India's sizeable and well-regarded military community has been openly asked to vote for a particular party, the Bharatiya Janata Party. An influential ex-servicemen's group has now publicly advised the military community to vote for the party. The advise sounds more like a fatwa.

Former deputy chief of the Army, Lt General Raj Kadyan says, "It is in our interest that we should vote for the BJP."

Lt General Kadyan states, I am looking for the benefit of my community, my 24 lakh ex-servicemen. And their benefits, as the developments are today, lie with the BJP. They are better than the others."

This is the first time that discontent in the military is being expressed politically. The target of the anger is the ruling establishment. And the advisory to vote against the Government of the day is unprecedented.

Retd Major General AJB Jaini said, "We have realised that unless we have a political voice, the Government will not understand the value of our vote. The Government must realise that we have a vote too."

India has long held to the belief that its military is apolitical but democracy is clearly catching up with the men of arms.

Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasads electoral battle in Saran, previously known as Chhapra, is unfolding on a political landscape vastly different from the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, in which he won this seat and his party won 22 of the 24 seats it contested in Bihar.

The race in Saran is mainly between Mr Yadav and the Rajiv Pratap Rudy, a former Union civil aviation minister who represented the seat in 1999, but lost to Mr Yadav in 2004.

As both leaders lock horns in the predominant Yadav bastion, Lalu is wooing voters with his rustic charm while Rudy is using technology to his benefit. The constituency, going to the poll on April 16, has seen both candidates using their best strategies and trying their best tricks to mobilise voters.

Addressing a rally, Mr Yadav says, "Sabko pranam. Aap laltain par mohar lagaiye aur hume jiwaiye.

Rudy, known for his love for designer labels and flying machines, is also campaigning hard reaching out every village in the region seeking both blessings and votes. He doesn't want to be left behind in the race.

"Yes, it is perceived as cow belt. But even Yadavs are not hostile towards Rudy. Even if they don't vote for me, they don't hate me. But there are many Yadavs who hate Lalu Prasad," claims Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

Rudy added, "I know I am in a tiger's den. Lalu is a senior leader, but this time, he will bite the dust."

In a major setback to the Bharatiya Janata Party, its controversial candidate from Kandhamal, Ashok Sahu, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly giving an inflammatory speech in the communally sensitive region in Orissa earlier this month.

Talking to mediapersons, Kandhamal District Collector Krishan Kumar said, Sahu was arrested in Phulbani town on Tuesday after allegedly evading the police for days.

Ashok Sahu, a retired Indian Police Service officer and the BJPs candidate for the Kandhamal Lok Sabha seat, could be jailed for up to three years for a speech he allegedly gave at a public meeting in Raikia town on April 5. He allegedly accused the church of indulging in conversion.

Kandhamal district witnessed widespread communal violence after the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides at his ashram on Aug 23, 2008.

At least 38 people were killed in the state and more than 25,000 Christians were forced to flee their homes after their houses were attacked by rampaging mobs. More than 3,000 people are still living in government relief camps.

While Sahu is contesting from Kandhamal, the BJP has also nominated Manoj Pradhan, an accused in the riots, for the assembly election from G. Udayagiri constituency in the district. Pradhan was arrested about four months ago and is still in jail.

AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa is one political leader who is being wooed aggressively by all political fronts, from the Left to the Right. BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani had said on Sunday, that back channels were working to bring Jayalalitha into the NDA fold.

Talking to a TV channel, Advani said, Mayawati, no, but Jayalalithaa, yes. We are holding talks with her.

However, clarifying his remarks on Monday, Advani told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram that it was up to the AIADMK to decide on a post-poll alliance. "It is for them to decide. I simply mentioned about it.

But now, in a major embarrassment for the party, Jayalalithaa has denied holding any talks with the BJP.

Jayalalithaa, in her statement, said reports have appeared in sections of media that I am conducting talks with BJP on a post poll alliance. I wish to clarify that such reports are baseless and AIADMK is not conducting talks with any political party for a possible post-poll alliance.

Jayalalithaa also asserted that AIADMK had aligned with the MDMK, PMK and the two Left parties only. "The AIADMK has entered into an alliance with the CPI, CPI (M), PMK and the MDMK for the coming General Elections," she added.

THE foreigner issue dogging Congress president Sonia Gandhi has raised its head again. This time, the attack has come from Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who on Monday attacked her, saying that she is having 'Indian salt' flowing in her blood but was claiming that the country faced an 'internal threat'.

Addressing a rally in Ranchi on Monday, Modi asked, "Sonia Gandhi is in India for the last 30 years eating the salt of the country. And she is saying that the country faces threat from inside. Is she paying back to the country in this way?"

Commenting on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Modi said, "Manmohan Singh had said that he was most disturbed when the nuclear deal with US got stuck. Was Manmohan disturbed when terrorists attacked Mumbai? Manmohan is happy to play in the lap of United States."

Modi also criticised the Central Government for expressing inability to provide security to the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 matches.

Verbal punches between Manmohan and Advani have intensified in recent days, but Monday's attack at a press conference in Mumbai was the sharpest in which PM accused Advani of being strong in words and weak in action. Attacking the BJP prime-ministerial candidate L K Advani, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has accused him of being strong in words only, and said that while the Babri Masjid was demolished by hoodlums, the BJP's leader was "weeping in a corner".

Referring to Advani's comment that Mr Singh was the weakest PM India has had, the Prime Minister said, "He has the unique ability to combine strength in speech with weakness in action. Mr Advani likes to call me a weak Prime Minister. I cannot help pointing out that when held to the fire during the Kandahar hijacking, the BJP's 'Iron Man' was quick to melt.

Talking to the mediapersons Singh said, "Advani agreed to release the terrorists and subjected his Cabinet colleague Shri Jaswant Singh to the humiliation of having to personally escort the terrorists to their safe haven."

He added, "I am not a sloganeer. I will readily concede that most of my opponents make more rousing speeches. They have more catchy phrases and may run better marketing campaigns.

He said throughout his life he had a strong believe that substance triumphs over style, performance over public relations and hard work over short cuts.

THE Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing on Varun Gandhi’s bail plea till Thursday, which means the BJP leader will have to spend a few more days in jail.

The apex court said that Varun can be free provided he gives in writing to the court that he will make no provocative speeches during his campaign. Varun's lawyer told the court that he would give the undertaking.

Now, the SC has asked the Uttar Pradesh government if Varun gives an undertaking, will it be acceptable to the UP government.

Varun Gandhi, who has been detained in the Etah jail, has challenged his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) by the Uttar Pradesh government.

The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan will consider the plea for Varun's release to enable him to file his nomination papers as well as to contest elections from Pilibhit. The 29-year old was arrested under section 153 A of the Indian Penal Code for delivering a communal speech during an election rally in March The NSA was slapped on him following violence in Pilbhit during his surrender before the court.

While Varun's lawyers are likely to argue that the CD containing the hate speech is doctored, and therefore inadmissible as material evidence to book him under the NSA, the Uttar Pradesh government is expected to take a stand that Varun’s release would pose a threat to peace and could lead to a serious law and order problem in the state.

In its affidavit, the Mayawati government has described Varun as a "national threat to communal peace and harmony", thereby defending its action of invoking the NSA.

BREAKING with her tradition of making only veiled references to her brother Rahul’s and her own future in Indian politics, Priyanka Gandhi, on Sunday, came out categorically to predict that she indeed saw a future prime minister in Rahul, while also not ruling out her own decision to take the plunge into active politics.

"I have full faith in my brother. He is hard working. He means well. He is, according to me, qualified... So, one day he will. He will do a good job of it," agencies quoted Priyanka as saying in response to a query about Rahul's eligibility for the top post. She was in Amethi campaigning for her brother.

Priyanka, however, reasserted the official Congress line that Dr Manmohan Singh would indeed take up the top job, should the Congress come back to power. When asked about her own plans, she again took the media by surprise with her rather uncharacteristic categorical response, when she said: “As I am growing older, I'm realising that `never' is a bad thing to say. So I'm not going to say never," agency reports quoted her as saying.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Murli Manohar Joshi has allegedly got a death threat from terror outfit Indian Mujahideen, warning him against contesting the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

The letter warned the former Union HRD minister and BJP candidate from Varanasi constituency against holding meetings and chanting Har Har Mahadev. DIG of police PC Meena said an investigation has been initiated in connection with the incident. "It would be clear only after a proper probe whether it was an act of mischief or a real threat to Joshi," he said.

The letter written in broken Hindi was dropped at a local media office on Saturday evening, which was a photocopy with no name of sender, but with Commander Indian Mujahideen inscribed in it in the end, sources said.

The letter written in broken Hindi was dropped at a local media office on Saturday evening, which was a photocopy with no name of sender, but with Commander Indian Mujahideen inscribed in it in the end, sources said.