CHENNAI, December 20: Popular Telugu film actress, Vijayashanti, called on the AIADMK general secretary, Jayalalitha, at her residence here yesterday.Vijayashanti, who would be campaigning for the Bharatiya Janata Party-Telugu Desam Party (NTR) alliance in Andhra Pradesh during the elections, sought the `blessings' of Jayalalitha before embarking on the campaign trail, a release from the AIADMK said.Meanwhile, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) today formally entered the AIADMK-led front for the coming Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. The PMK, which is known for its LTTE sympathies, is now in the company of BJP, Janata Party and Marumalarchi DMK (MDMK).The United Communist Party of India (UCPI) president, D Pandian, today said that the AIADMK had ``opened the gates for communal forces'' in the State by aligning with the BJP. He said that Jayalalitha was the only Chief Minister who had supported the `kar seva' at the national integration council meeting, prior to demolition of the Babri Masjid.ANDHRA PRADESH: The Communist Party of India (CPI) would contest three seats in Andhra Pradesh and support its allies, Telugu Desam, CPI(M) and Janata Dal in the remaining 39 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. CPI state secretary, S Sudhakar Reddy, said in Hyderabad today that the State party committee, which met here on December 18 and 19, had decided that CPI should contest from Nalgonda, Bhadrachalam and Ananthapur seats in the State.ORISSA: The State Janata Dal, which suffered a major split a week ago, today demanded resignation of 28 rebel MLAs, who are now members of the newly formed Biju Janata Dal (BJD), from the State assembly. These MLAs had been elected to the assembly on JD's symbol and should now resign on ``moral grounds'', JD State party president Ashok Das and newly elected JDLP leader Narasingh Mishra told newsmen here.Meanwhile, the Election Commission said it would decide on Monday the issue of registration of the BJD as a state party in Orissa. BJD leader Dilip Ray said at the Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi today that his party had submitted necessary papers for its registration with the EC.MAHARASHTRA: Congress attempts at ensuring a one-to-one contest between the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena alliance and opposition in Maharashtra received a jolt following the United Front's decision to contest 20-22 seats in the State.The decision was taken at a meeting last night here of the Front constituents in the State including the Janata Dal, CPI, CPI-M, Samajwadi Party and a faction of the Republican Party of India (RPI), which otherwise is not part of the UF.NEW DELHI: The Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) today said it would field candidates from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar as a United Front constituent, apart from Kerala and West Bengal where it has already been contesting Lok Sabha elections.The Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP) today authorised its president and former prime minister, Chandra Shekhar, to hold talks with different political parties for electoral alliance and adjustment of seats. Chandra Shekhar has also been given a free hand by the party in choosing candidates for contesting the elections, according to the party general secretary, Satya Prakash Malviya.PUNJAB: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Punjab today suffered a split with dissidents forming a new outfit protesting against the BSP's alliance with the Congress for the coming polls and accusing party president Kanshi Ram of working against the interest of Dalits. The new organisation, Bahujan Samaj Morcha, was formed at a convention here electing former MLA, Dr Satnam singh Kainth, as its president.HARYANA: Former deputy prime minister and Haryana Lok Dal leader Devi Lal will announce on December 25 the list of party candidates contesting the elections. Stating this at Karnal today, Lok Dal leader Om Parkash Chautala said his party would contest all the 10 seats in Haryana as no electoral tie-up had been finalised with any political party.
