REGIONAL NEWS - Page 437

Maoist rebels bombed a BDO office and set ablaze eight trucks in neighbouring Gaya where they shot dead a driver during their 24-hour bandh in Bihar and Jharkhand.

Torn between fatherly emotions and party loyalties,Cong leader Arjun Singh made a brief appearance in Sidhi constituency in MP to canvas for the Cong candidate.

Even though there has been a growing demand from various quarters for the 'right not to vote',the ex-CEC N Gopalaswami cautioned that negative voting was not a right option.

In telegrams sent to PM,Sonia Gandhi and Pranab Mukherjee,Karunanidhi said the ‘war situation in Sri Lanka is alarming and the predicament of the Tamils very critical.’

Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP's star campaigner for the general elections,Narendra Modi has apologised on his blog for his inability to address rallies in Maharashtra and Goa.

Apprehending militant inflitration,BSF has asked its counterpart in Pakistan to undertake counter measures and upgrade its security set up.

Ranee Narah of the Congress and Bijoya Chakraborty of the BJP share the distinction of being the sole women candidates of their respective parties in Assam,but that is about all they have in common.

Five militants were killed in an encounter with army in lower Assam's Sonitpur district in the wee hours on Monday.

The all important Jat factor has always played a major role in the fortunes of political parties in this western Rajasthan constituency of Sikar.

Former UN diplomat-turned-politician Shashi Tharoor was granted bail on Saturday by a local court in Kochi in a case relating to alleged disrespect of the national anthem.

BJP candidate from Kandhamal Lok Sabha constituency Ashok Sahu,who was sent to jail for his alleged hate speech,was released today,prison officials said.

Claiming that the "flag of secularism is not safe in Congress' hand",CPI(M) politburo member Brinda Karat stressed the need for an alternative secular central government.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that Amethi was more like a family to him than a mere political arena where he goes to garner votes.

BJP candidate Maneka Gandhi filed her nomination papers from Anola parliamentary constituency without any fanfare.

'Hemant Karkare killing-conspiracy' missile fired by Union Minority Affairs Minister Abdul Rehman Antulay now threatens to hit him in the Lok Sabha polls.

Jat strongman Sajjan Kumar had the last laugh with Congress nominating his brother Ramesh Kumar for South Delhi seat from where his candidature was withdrawn.

The moderate faction of separatist Hurriyat Conference and conglomerate of militant outfits -- United Jehad Council -- crossed swords for the first time over calls for poll boycott in Jammu and Kashmir.

At least 12 labourers were killed when a dam being constructed by a private firm collapsed near Rongli in East Sikkim district

TV star and Congress candidate Shekhar Suman filed his nomination for the prestigious Patna Sahib Lok Sabha constituency.

A BSF jawan was killed and three others injured when naxals detonated an IED in Latehar district of Jharkhand.

New Keringa is a model village in Southern Orissa,India,with 47 families. It is distinct,not because it is in the news. It is the story of a participatory democracy as the adage seems more fitting that 'an idea can change your life'.

Around 40 per cent voting was recorded till 1330 hrs in 10 Lok Sabha and 70 assembly constituencies of Orissa,which witnessed sporadic incidents of firing and arson by Naxals in Malkangiri and Sundargarh districts.

An estimated 15 to 18 per cent voters exercised their franchise in 13 out of the 40 lok sabha seats of Bihar till noon on Thursday during the first phase of polling.