gaddam@remus.rutgers.edu (Surekha Gaddam) (04/04/91)
Various political parties are working on their poll strategies and alliances for the forthcoming elections. The JD(S) elections panel met in New Delhi today to decide about electoral alliances. The cong(I) and the Indian union muslim league are holding discussions in Trivendrum to forge an alliance for the coming parliamentary and assembly elections in the southern state of Kerala. The DMK and its allies are also holding talks on seat adjustments in Madras. Meanwhile, in a political development, the former external affiars minister and the Janata Dal(S) leader Mr.V.C.Shukla has joined Cong(I). Speaking to newsmen Mr.Shukla said he joined the party unconditionally. The assembly elections in the eastern state of W.Bengal are to be held simultaneously along with the parliamentary elctions in May. This was disclosed by the chief election commissioner Mr.T.N.Sheshan in New Delhi last evening. The union cabinet is meeting tomorrow to discuss the politcal situation in the northern state of Haryana. The Governor Mr.Dhanik Lal Mandal is understood to have recommended the dissolution of the state assembly and imposition of the President's rule in the state. In Punjab, 22 persons were killed and 29 others injured in separate incidents since Tuesday night. According to UNI, five persons were killed in a power bomb explosion in Amritsar dist. One militant was killed in an encounter in Faridkot dist. Militants shot dead four persons of a rival gang in Gurudaspur dist. Three each in Hosiharpur and Patiala dist, one each in Ludhiana and Kapurtala dist. In Srilanka, 11 fishermen were shot dead by the LTTE militants near Trincomalai harbour last evening. According to AIR colombo correspondent, the fishermen were intercepted near the harbour and were shot dead. Ten more fishermen were found missing. The Pakistani foreign minister Mr.S.Khan is arriving in New Delhi tomorrow to hold official talks with the Indian leaders. The official talks between the foreign secreataries of India and Pakistan are expected to begin on Friday in New Delhi. The two sides are expected to discuss the progress made by the army generals of India and Pak who are meeting in New Delhi since Monday. Late news: The president Mr.Ramaswamy Venkataraman presented Padma Bhushan awards to Prof.Dinkar Balwant Deodar, Lala Amarnath ( the cricket legends), and the former skipper Kapil Dev Nikhanji at the Padma Awards 1991 investitute ceremony last week. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Edited by Surekha Reddy Gaddam. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --