Meanwhile, in8230;

It8217;s all up to the people now, Das admits, 8220;let them take up the campaign of the JD candidates8221;. But there is one advantage in all this, and it isn8217;t lost on the party leader. The Dal will be a pioneer in practising clean politics, Das preens.

AGARTALA: Members of the outlawed National Liberation Front of Tripura NLFT have abducted two CPIMactivists from Puran Manubankul bazar area under Manu constituency in South Tripura district. A group of 12 NLFT militants reportedly stormed into the house of Bhagirath Das, an activist of the All indian Krishak Sabha 8212; the farmers8217; body of the CPIM 8212; on Sunday night and kidnapped his two brothers, Sunil and Adhirath. Both are active members of the local CPIM unit. The militants have reportedly demanded a hefty ransom for their release.

NARAGUND KARNATAKA: It just isn8217;t H.D. Deve Gowda8217;s lucky phase. First booted out by old man Sitaram Kesri, and now hooted out of an election meeting by young rabble-rousers. The former prime minister was just warming up on his litany against bete noire and Lok Shakti leader R.K. Hegde at a rally here on Sunday, when a section of the gathering started jeering and shouting slogans. Naragund, after all, is represented in the Assembly by B.R. Yavagal, who recently crossed over to the Hegde camp. Gowda cut short his address and left.

AGARTALA: You haveheard of candidates being arrested. Now a presiding officer has been put behind bars for refusing to perform election duty. Subhash Das, who is the returning officer in four assembly constituencies here, said Trilochan Palain, a government lecturer, had refused to accept appointment as presiding officer for the elections without any explanation. The State Election Commission directed that a case be lodged against him as the refusal amounts to a cognisable offence.

TIRUCHIRAPALLI: Here they were expecting film star-turned-BJP politician Vijayashanthi, and Puthiya Tamilagam Party leaders turned up instead. Poor AIADMK activists waiting at Elurpatti village on Sunday night who burst crackers thinking the superstar was finally coming just lost their fuse. An argument ensued between the two groups, in which the Pudhiya Tamilagam Party candidate for the Karur Lok Sabha seat, S. Kamaraj, and his supporters were injured. They were released from hospital on Monday morning, but ensured that AIADMK activist andcandidate Thambidurai was arrested for the incident after a road block.

JALANDHAR: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is looking for the best prime minister the State can have. Unfortunately, his tongue can8217;t make up its mind. When in Akali campaign rallies, he tells the audience to go for the BJP8217;s Atal Behari Vajpayee, whose election would be 8220;in the best interest of Punjab and the country8221;. Over in Jalandhar, lending a hand and much else to I.K. Gujral, Badal reminds the crowd that the JD leader had proved to be the best ever prime minister for Punjab.

JALANDHAR: I.K. Gujral at least can do with all the help, however half-hearted. Recently, he had to cancel a scheduled address to trade unions when the AITUC and INTUC decided to boycott it at the last moment. Both the AITUC 8212; which is the trade union wing of an ally, the CPI 8212; and the INTUC are angry at Gujral8217;s 8220;misuse8221; of holy places like gurdwaras, temples, churches and mosques, which he has been frequently visiting duringhis Jalandhar campaign. They have decided to write to the Election Commission in this regard.