Quicktakes — By-poll for 2 LS seats on May 29

Miss Singapore Tricia Tan and Miss Slovak Republic Lucia Povraznikova during rehersals for the Miss Universe 1997 pageant scheduled for May...

Miss Singapore Tricia Tan and Miss Slovak Republic Lucia Povraznikova during rehersals for the Miss Universe 1997 pageant scheduled for May 16 in Miami Beach.

NEW DELHI: By-elections to two Lok Sabha — one in Delhi and the other in Orissa — and an equal number of assembly seats, one each in Karnataka and Punjab, will be held on May 29, the Election Commission (EC) announced today. Filing of nominations in all the four constituencies will close on May 12 while nomination papers will be scrutinised on May 13. The last date of withdrawal is May 15, according to the schedule released today. The two Lok Sabha constituencies where by-elections will be held are Aska, which had fallen vacant following the death of former Orissa chief minister Biju Patnaik, and East Delhi.

Petrol prices

CALCUTTA: Prices of motor spirit and high speed diesel will go up by at least 10 paise and 4 paise per litre respectively following rise in surcharge on sales tax, according to West Bengal Petroleum Dealers Association (WBPDA) sources. However, neither the dealers nor the general public were informed about the rise in prices, WBPDA general secretary Joydev Sarkar said. He threatened to resort to agitation to protect the rights of the dealers.

Gaud convicted

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court today convicted Ramakrishna Gaud from Andhra Pradesh for giving false evidence and making false claim in the court regarding his marriage to Priyanka Gandhi, daughter of former Premier Rajiv Gandhi, and had sought a stay of her marriage that took place on February 18.

SC ban on waste

NEW DELHI: In a swift action, the Supreme Court today stopped the Centre and the states from granting either authorisations or permissions to industrial units in the country for importing hazardous wastes after the Union Government told the court that over 2000 tons of toxic materials were being dumped every day in areas without requisite safe disposal facilities.