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BJP wins Patna seatPATNA: The Bharatiya Janata Party BJP on Thursday wrested the prestigious Patna Lok Sabha seat from the Rashtriya Janat...

BJP wins Patna seat

PATNA: The Bharatiya Janata Party BJP on Thursday wrested the prestigious Patna Lok Sabha seat from the Rashtriya Janata Dal RJD, with its nominee C P Thakur defeating Ramkripal Yadav by a margin of 52,606 votes, increasing the strength of BJP and its allies to 267 in the 542-member House. Thakur8217;s win is a blow to Bihar strongman Laloo Prasad Yadav8217;s RJD, which had bagged 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state. While Thakur polled 3,31,860 votes, Yadav, who had won the seat twice in a row in the 1993 by-poll and 1996 general polls, secured 2,79,254 votes. With the win the individual tally of BJP in the state has gone up to 20.

Banks open

MUMBAI: Commercial banks will remain open on April 11 and 12 Sunday for the benefit of customers. This is for the first time that banks in the country will remain open on a Sunday. The Reserve Bank of India RBI has directed banks to observe business hours and working hours as applicable to weekdays instead of those applicable tohalf-days. However, the administrative offices of banks and branches that have weekly holidays on Saturdays will not be covered by the RBI8217;s instructions. Normal banking transactions will take place on both the days. The clearing operations of banks will also remain open on these days.

Crisis in Mizo Cong

NEW DELHI: The Congress Government in Mizoram, led by Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, has been plunged into a serious political crisis with the resignation of three senior Cabinet ministers on Wednesday. State home minister Liansuama, rural development and forest minister Saikapthianga and food and civil supplies minister P C Bawihtluanga tendered their resignations to Lal Thanhawla quot;to strengthen the partyquot;. However, sources close to the three ministers said that they were not satisfied with the government and the party leadership.

Delhi team expanded

NEW DELHI: The BJP ministry in Delhi was expanded on Thursday with the induction of Poornima Sethi 8212; the first woman to be given a berthin the Cabinet. Poornima, the firebrand MLA from Kalkaji in South Delhi, was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna at a brief swearing-in ceremony. Her portfolio would be announced later. She is likely to be given the food and civil supplies portfolio.