Opinion October 26, 1984, Forty Years Ago: Congress (I) seeks allies this election season

Cong(I) seeks allies

Anticipating greater odds at the hustings, the Congress (I) has begun vigorous efforts for electoral alliances with a larger number of regional parties and wooing into its fold those available from any party. Congress (I) emissaries are negotiating with over a dozen regional parties, some with known communal moorings. These talks put the Congress (I) in the unenviable position of relying on the largest number of regional parties for success.

Bombay tanker fire

Tragedy struck Butcher Island, five km off the Bombay harbour, on October 24, when a major fire swept through a Shipping Corporation oil tanker, claiming four lives and extensively damaging the vessel. Two persons were seriously injured, while six were reported missing. According to reports, the fire broke out at 3:30 am, following unidentified small explosions in the pumping room of the tanker, M T Lajpat Rai. It was brought under control at 6 am the next day, 26 hours after it broke out.

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UP power cuts

The Uttar Pradesh government has resorted to drastic power cuts, including block closure of industries in the state for three days in a week to tide over the crisis created by the closure of the Singrauli super thermal power station following a big fire in its coal conveyor belts earlier in the week.

Bomb blast in Delhi

A bomb was hurled towards the booking counter of Samrat Cinema in West Delhi, on Thursday night, injuring at least 19 persons. The blast took place about 10 minutes before the end of the evening show of the film Rakhwala. Most of the victims suffered leg injuries. Bloodstains were splattered on the marble floor outside the booking window.