gaddam@remus.rutgers.edu (Surekha Gaddam) (04/13/91)
Elections for the lower house of parliament will be held on 20, 21st and 26th of next month(May), except in the states of Punjab, J&K and Assam. Simultaneous polling will take place in six legislative assemblies of Kerala, Tamilnadu and Pondicherry in the south, UP and Haryana in north and W.Bengal in the east. Announcing this in New Delhi today, the chief election commissioner Mr.T.N.Seshan said the decision regarding holding elections in J&K, Punjab and Assam will be announced later only after considering various factors. According to the election schedule, a formal notification will be issued on the 19th of this month and the last date for filing of nominations will be the 20/28 (date unclear) of this month. The last date for withdrawal will be the 29th of this month. Mr.Seshan said that the meeting of all national and regional parties will be convened on Tuesday in New Delhi to discuss the code of conduct for free and fair elections. The code of conduct says 'not to indulge in corrupt practices or offenses' under the election law. The BJP and the CPI, (M) have demanded the govt not to hold elections in Punjab and J&K, whereas the Cong(I) leader Mr.P.V.Narsimha Rao called on the President Mr.Venkataraman at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan to express his party's concern over the govt's decision to hold elections in Punjab and J&K. The center has directed the Punjab govt to take stern action agaisnt those who might try to communal disharmony anywhere in the state in the wake of coming elections. The state of Assam was severly hit by gails and thunderstorms. In the past 24 hours gushing winds uprooted several trees and power lines. The Hungarian president now visiting India, arrived in Calcutta this afternoon. He visited the trust run by the Nobel laureate Mother Theresa and the victoria memorial. He was accompanied by the state governor Prof.Noorul Hassan. Hungary is to open two consulates in the cities of Madras and Calcutta. India and Canada have agreed to cooperate in coal sector. A protocol to this effect was signed in New Delhi today by the secretary dept of Coal Mr.R.K.Jain and the Canadian high commissioner to India Mr.John (>??). In Bangladesh atleast 35 tribals injured in a crackdown by the security forces in Chittgang area. In Lanka, atleast 15 LTTE men were killed when security personnel launched attack on an LTTE garrison from the helicopters in and around Jaffna on Thursday. Narotham Reddy -------------------------------- Edited by Surekha --