Petrol prices were hiked by 83 paise per litre, while diesel was up by Rs 1.26 per litre on Monday night.

The new prices will come into effect from midnight.

The Election Commission tonight revised the voter turnout of assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, but they were less than the 2011 polls.

However, the percentage is likely to go up as the figures were not final.   In Tamil Nadu, where the elections went off peacefully, 72 per cent of the 5.82 crore voters turned out to cast votes, according to figures issued by quoting reports till 8 pm.

In the 2011 assembly polls, the figures were 78.12 per cent and 73.85 per cent in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

In Kerala, the figures available at 8 pm said that 71 per cent of the total electors had cast votes. The figure was 75.12 per cent in 2011 and 74.02 per cent in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. At 6 pm too, the figure had stood at 71 per cent, as told by EC.

In Puducherry, the voter turnout recorded at 8 pm was 84.11 per cent, which was 75.12 per cent in the 2011 assembly polls. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the turnout was recorded at 83.05 per cent, the Commission said.

Haryana Government has released a compensation of Rs 65.38 crore, including interim and final payments, to those people whose properties were damaged in the recent Jat quota stir in the state.

Private and government insurance companies have already made payments over Rs 12 crore to these people whose insured properties were damaged, an official spokesperson said here.

He said that the Government has so far received 2,078 claims for compensation, including 1,826 claims from urban areas and 238 from rural areas. Also, 14 of the claims were not in order.

First exit polls figures from the just-concluded voting in Kerala, gives a lead to LDF.   According to India Today, it's an LDF win: LDF 94
UDF 43,  BJP 1 and Others 2.

Just this morning, CPI(M) Polit Bureau Member and Left Front's chief ministerial aspirant Pinarayi Vijayan claimed there was an "LDF wave" in the state and he may not be far wrong. However, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today expressed confidence that the Cong-led UDF would ride back to power.

The five-state polls -- Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry ends and with it, are exit poll forecasts of what lies ahead in the states. While 126 Assembly seats in Assam went for polls, 294 of the West Bengal Assembly constituencies also voted. All of 234 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu, 140 in Kerala and 30 in Puducherry also went for polls.

The polls assume significance as it would determine not only the performance of the respective governments but would also be a near mid-term for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre.

It would be interesting to figure out if incumbent chief ministers Tarun Gogoi in Assam, Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal, J Jayalalithaa in Kerala and Oommen Chandy in Kerala would succumb to anti-incumbency.


First up, Assam. According to ABP Nielsen, the BJP-led alliance (with AGP) to form government in Assam with 81 seats, Congress at 33 seats.    

India Today also projected a win for the BJP-AGP combine, giving the BJP+ between 79 to 93 seats. The exit polls predicted a major drop for the Congress, who are expected to win 26 to 33 seats. AIUDF may win 6 to 10 seats.


West Bengal:  ABP-Ananda, C-Voter, India Today #exitpolls show TMC winning West Bengal and by a clear margin as well. Bengal's voters have decided to give Mamata Banerjee another term.


ABP Ananda gives it: TMC 178, LEFT+110, BJP+1
Others- 5

India TV- C Voter:  TMC 163-171, Left + 71-79, BJP 2-6, Others 1-5 

69.19% voters turnout recorded till 5 PM in #TamilNaduElection

Amid speculation about a possible second term for Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday declined to be drawn into the matter, but said there is a mature relationship between the central bank and the government.

As far as the Finance Ministry and RBI are concerned, there is an institutional relationship between the two. It is a very mature relationship. We at the highest level at the two institutions have discussion and each other views is considered between us, he said.

He was speaking at an event organised by Indian Womens Press Corps.

To a question whether Rajan is getting an extension, he quipped these are not issues which we discuss through the media.

Rajans current three-year term as RBI chief is ending this September.

Indicating his interest in a second term, Rajan on May 13 had said he has enjoyed every moment of the job, but there is more to do, despite calls from some sections of the ruling BJP against any extension for him.

Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy last week had suggested that Rajan should be removed and accused him of being responsible for unemployment and collapse of industrial activity.

In my opinion, the RBI Governor is not appropriate for the country. I dont want to speak much about him. He has hiked interest rates in the garb of controlling inflation that has damaged the country The sooner he is sent back to Chicago, the better it would be, Swamy had told reporters outside Parliament.

Rajan, who had earlier also served as the Chief Economist of IMF and is known as a key commentator on financial issues globally, is the on-leave Professor of Finance at University of Chicagos Booth School of Business.

Minor rape case: Goa Court extends police custody of St Cruz MLA Atanasio Monserrate (Babush) till May 18th.

About 58 lakh pensioners are being roped in by the Centre for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' to ensure that the target of total sanitation is met by October, 2019.


The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has written to all central government pensioners' associations across the country to be part of  'Clean India fortnight' to sensitise their members on cleanliness in their neighbourhood. Those interested in being part of the programme will be asked to devote 100 hours per year - i.e. two hours per week.

"It is a key initiative to improve health and cleanliness in the nation. In order to succeed, it has to become a people's movement by ensuring sustainable change in the behaviour of citizens. It is, therefore, important that all efforts are made to mobilise people's participation and to ensure that the mission truly becomes a citizens' movement," the Ministry said in a letter to the associations.

Central government pensioners are a very significant constituent of society in view of their numbers, geographical spread and important position in society, it said.


"You can make a great contribution and impact in society in various ways. It is suggested that various activities relating to Swachhta such as cleaning of surroundings, organising workshops, cleanliness drives etc be organised.


Award functions etc in associations, social clubs, resident welfare associations may be organised," the letter said.There are about 58 lakh central government pensioners in the country.


The pensioners have been asked to organise a mass pledge by members of their associations. "I will devote 100 hours per year that is two hours per week to voluntary work for cleanliness. I will neither litter nor let others to litter," reads the pledge.They have also been asked to share photographs of works being done by them in this regard.


"Join hands with the government in this noble mission and continue to contribute to the well being of the nation and society!," the Ministry said.The Clean India Fortnight is to be observed between May 16-31.Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha had recently written to all secretaries of central government ministries, explaining them the "range, intensity and visibility" of Clean India Mission related activities that needed to be increased significantly.Swachh Bharat Mission was launched on October 2, 2014 to achieve total sanitation and cleanliness by 2019.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday said the government will use all options available to bring beleaguered liquor baron Vijay Mallya back to the country."The agencies will make every endeavour under the options available,' Jaitley said in a media interaction at the Indian Women's Press Corps (IWPC) in New Delhi.

Mallya, who is accused in a Rs.9,400-crore loan default case, is currently living in the United Kingdom (UK). He left India on March 2, using his diplomatic passport.

The UK government has refused to deport Mallya on the plea that he entered the country with a legitimate document, and despite India suspending the passport, it will not deport the person, Jaitley said."There are two separate procedures '" one is deportation, another is extradition. The United Kingdom has conventionally never been helpful in deportation,' he said.The Indian government now needs to go through the extradition process and file a charge sheet in court against Mallya to bring him back.

"The United Kingdom expects you to go through the extradition process, which is as per their law where the requirement is that once you file the charge sheet in the court you start the extradition proceedings with due process of law,' he said.

The first three physical books from @Chikisarkar's Juggernaut books. 

The BJP is considering replacing Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, sources said, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah craft a strategy to ensure that the party retains their home state in assembly elections next year. She could be sent as a governor to Punjab or Haryana.

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook will visit India this week and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, two sources familiar with the matter said on Monday.

NDTV reports: Bharatiya Janata Party may remove Anandiben Patel as Gujarat chief minister, say sources, after adverse report sent to Prime Minister Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has wished a speedy recovery to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who is down with high fever, Health Minister J P Nadda said Monday.


"Got to know that Sh Rahul Gandhi is not well from Hon'ble PM who was quite concerned about his health. In view of the concerns of Hon'ble PM, I enquired about his health and wished a speedy recovery for him," Nadda tweeted.


Rahul Gandhi had last week cancelled his two-day election visit to Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, saying he was down with high fever. Congress sources said Gandhi is still suffering from high viral fever and the doctors have advised him to take rest.

Do read:India's Big Battle: Development Vs. Pollution

Election authorities in Tamil Nadu have made a recommendation to the Election Commission to extend time to vote in rain hit regions of Tamil Nadu following representations from AIADMK, DMK and Congress.


"We received representations from DMK, AIADMK and Congress parties to extend time to cast vote in rain hit regions," Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni said today, adding, "we have sent a recommendation to EC (to consider it). However rains have started receding and after considering the situation by 3 pm, further steps will be taken," he said.


He said Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Tiruchirappalli, Dinidigul, Madurai, Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga districts have been experiencing heavy rainfall.


Though parties have requested that time be extended in 14 districts, it was found after consultations that rainfall was heavy only in Delta districts, besides the five other regions, including Sivaganga, he added.


"Whether the time will be extended or not, whoever manages to reach the polling station before 6 pm will be given a token and they will be allowed to vote irrespective of the time the process may take, be it 8 pm or 9 pm," he said.


Reiterating that there are no law and order issues anywhere in Tamil Nadu, he said there were only "some minor incidents not worth mentioning."


He dismissed as incorrect charges that an attempt had been made to capture a booth at Maduravayoal here. Additional police personnel were sent there as there were huge crowds ahead of 100 meters in some booths and due to it voters expressed apprehension.


"It was not an attempt to booth-capture." Offline recording of polling process was on in about 3,000 booths as webcasting could not be done due to power cut issues in parts of districts like Ramanathapuram, he said. Emergency lights have been arranged in areas that experience power cuts, he said.

Just in: Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar moves court for Rio trials.  Sushil Kumar, the double Olympic-medallist, has been omitted from the Wrestling Federation of India's Rio Preparatory camp that is to begin in Sonepat on Wednesday.

Narsingh Pancham Yadav has been included in the men's 74kg freestyle division for the camp as he had acquired the berth at the World Championship last year. Sushil's name does not figure since he failed to qualify for the games. With the WFI not showing much interest in conducting a trial in 74kg, Sushil has already taken the matter to the doorsteps of Prime Minister's Office. The 32-year-old has also appealed to the sports ministry, IOA, WFI and fans to give him a chance to undergo a trial for the Rio Games, as according to the rules, quota belongs to the country and not to a particular wrestler.

What's brewing? Pakistan Chief of Army Staff Raheel Sharif arrived in Beijing on a 2-day official visit. He will meet senior politicians and the military leadership. 

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited on Sunday the residence of former premier Yousuf Raza Gilani here and congratulated him on the return of his son Ali Haider.Shahbaz Sharif said the safe return of Ali Haider after three years had brought happiness for the Gilani family. He said Haider's return was a very good news. Read more

An India-Pakistan wartime friendship in Prague. Read

He never fails to cut a handsome figure.But fans of Colin Firth may be worrying if he's been a little too committed to his latest health regime - after appearing gaunt on the red carpet.The 55 year-old displayed a particularly slimline shape while attending Chopard's Gent's Party at Annabel's in Cannes on Saturday night. Take a look

Superstar Mammootty, his actor son Dulquar Salman and actor and BJP Rajya Sabha member Suresh Gopi were among the celebrities who made a beeline to polling stations and cast their votes today.


Mammooty and Dulquar came separately and cast their votes at a polling station in Panampally Nagar in Ernakulam district, while Suresh Gopi got his finger inked at a booth in the morning and said expectations were 'sky high' for the saffron party.


Posting the picture of his inked finger on Facebook, Dulquar urged everyone to exercise their franchise, saying that it is "our right and our responsibility".


"The only ink you need! Go Vote! It's our right and our responsibility!! You're not cool if you don't vo te!," his FB post said.


When Mammooty was asked whom he would vote for, the actor smiled off and urged everyone to exercise their voting rights. "You people should also vote", he told media persons.


Actor Mukesh, seeking his electoral luck from Kollam constituency as the LDF candidate, stood in the queue along with other voters and cast his vote. Exuding confidence, another actor candidate Jagdeesh, who is contesting on a Congress ticket from Pathanapuram, said after seeing the long queue, he was confident of poll victory for the party.

@sidin tweets: Many years ago Upamanyu Chatterjee was an election officer of some sort in Kerala. Random fact.

A bride votes at Pallapalayam, Samalapuram.

If Tamil Nadu recorded a poll percentage of over 42.1 till 1 pm, some credit, at least in Chennai should probably go to Ola. Anyone booking an Ola cab in the state capital were in for a pleasant surprise with the online aggregator announcing a 'No Peak Pricing Today! and urging people to 'Go Vote!'.

There was moderate to heavy rain in parts of Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Dindigul, Tiruchirappalli, Cuddalore, Thanjavur and Nagapattinam districts had hampered polling process. In Chennai, Pulianthope area was affected due to rains.


Pic: Saisuresh Sivaswamy/Rediff.com.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar addressed a press conference in the aftermath of the murders of Aditya Sachdeav and journalist Rajdeo Ranjan in his state. Highlights...

-- I am very saddened by both incidents, we are acting very firmly, in the Gaya road rage issue people have been arrested and we are going to put the case to speedy trail.

-- We have decided to hand over the case to CBI after request by the family (Siwan Journalist Rajdeo Ranjan).


-- The person who has committed a crime (journalist Ranjan's murder) will get the strictest punishment under law. I had said earlier too, anyone can commit a crime If they have that mentality, they can't be stopped, but the law has to take its own course and serve out the punishment. In this case it has. I asked the DGP to contact the victim's family, inform them about the action taken and ask them if they are satisfied with the action taken. If they are not satisfied we will ask for a CBI probe.


-- Police is doing its job. I would like to ask people what else can be done, because if something else can be done, we would very much like to do it.


-- We have not left any stone unturned. The investigation is being carried out with highest diligence.

Fire breaks out at Surat's Kakrapar thermal power station, more than 10 fire tenders at the spot

Kerala witnessed brisk polling for the 140 Assembly constituencies with 28.46 per cent voting recorded till noon.  


According to Election Commissioner officials, Waynad registered 31.03 polling followed by Kannur and Alappuzha which registered 30 per cent polling while Thiruvananthapuram district recorded the lowest with 23.10 per cent.


People were seen queueing up in various booths in the state much before the polling that began at 7 am despite drizzling in some parts of state. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the state so far, police said.


Tight security has been put in place across the state with the deployment of about 52,000 police personnel from state police forces. Besides them, personnel from Central Armed Police Force and Quick Response Team have also been deployed in different parts of the state. The state has 3176 sensitive, critical and vulnerable polling booths.

More than 30 per cent of the 9.41 lakh voters cast their franchise in Puducherry till 11.30 hrs today. Voters turned up in large numbers at the booths despite rains in urban and rural areas. Police were deployed in good strength in addition to personnel from Central Armed forces. Physically challenged voters were helped by student volunteers to cast their votes. 

The social network had a grand plan to connect millions of Indians to the internet. Here's how it all went wrong. Read more

Senior Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram today exuded confidence that the DMK-Congress alliance will get a good majority and form next government in Tamil Nadu.



"The alliance of DMK, Congress and others will for sure get a good majority. A regime change will happen. I am totally confident that a DMK government will be formed," he told reporters after voting.


Referring to the rains in various parts of the state today, he said showers on the polling day are indication of the "change" to come.


Chidambaram also charged the Election Commission with "failing to check distribution of money by AIADMK. "Election Commission has failed in checking distribution of money by AIADMK men in Tamil Nadu. The AIDMK men had distributed money at several places," he alleged.


"Information I am getting for the past 10 ten days confirmed money distribution," he added. Though he welcomed flying squad raids and vehicle checks, he said they have "not prevented the distribution of money for votes and taking money for votes".


He said polls in Aravakurichi and Thanjavur constituencies could have been nullified after today's elections instead of postponing it to May 23.


The EC had postponed the polling in the two constituencies after seizure of huge sums of cash and reports of large-scale distribution of money to voters.


On the detaining of three trucks carrying Rs 570 crore near Tirupur by election officials, the former finance minister said he was "not aware whether so much of money can be taken to the bank". "It is a rare news that so much of money was being carried in containers," he said while seeking an investigation into the matter.


Pic: Heavy rains in Tamil Nadu did not deter voters as the state went to the polls. Picture AIR.

Pragya Singh Thakur, who was given a clean chit by the NIA in the Malegaon blast case, threatened to begin a fast unto death from 10 am today if she was not allowed to take a dip in the Kshipra river during the ongoing Simhastha Kumbh at Ujjain.

Thakur, who is undergoing treatment at an Ayurvedic hospital in Bhopal, is an accused in the murder of former RSS activist Sunil Joshi and the trial is pending in a Dewas court.

Her lawyer N Ravi claimed the trial court had accepted her application seeking permission to take a dip in the river but the police were refusing to implement the order on the ground that they did not have enough manpower to take her to Ujjain.

If she is not given assurance by 9 am Monday she will begin the fast at 10 am, said Bhagwan Jha, her brother-in-law.

DMDK Chief Vijaykant exercises his franchise in Saligramam, Chennai.

Congress leader A K Antony today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's controversial Kerala-Somalia comparison will impact the prospects of BJP, which has been pulling out all the stops in its bid to open its account in Kerala Assembly.    


"Modi had compared Kerala to Somalia, which is infamous for starvation deaths and sea pirates. The pride of Keralites has been hurt," Antony told reporters after exercising his franchise at a booth in Thiruvananthapuram. "The Prime minister had an opportunity to apologise for the remark, but he did not do that," the former Defence Minister said, adding the remark would affect the BJP's prospects.    


Modi, while addressing an election rally here, had compared the infant deaths in some tribal areas in the state with that to Somalia. However, BJP defended the Prime Minister, saying people were "twisting facts" and he had only highlighted the plight of the tribal community in the state and his desire was to improve their living conditions.


Expressing confidence that Kerala will create history by voting to power the UDF government again, Antony said the Marxist-led LDF will have to sit in the opposition for the next five years and BJP will not open its account.


Pic: An elderly voter gets a helping hand to a polling vote in Kerala. The picture was tweeted by AIR.

Teni Yadav, the cousin of Rocky Yadav, who is in judicial for 14 days, for allegedly shooting and killed a teenager in Bihar earlier this month over a road rage incident, surrendered on Monday morning in a court in Gaya.


Teni was allegedly present in Rocky's car when Aditya Sachdeva was shot dead for overtaking the car. Rocky is  the son of suspended Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Manorama Devi, who is absconding. She is wanted by the police for violating the prohibition law in the state.


Police were looking for Teni Yadav for a week, ever since Rocky was arrested in Gaya.


Aditya Sachdeva, 19, was driving home with friends in his Maruti Swift when he overtook Rocky Yadav's Range Rover. Rocky's father, known in the area for his muscle and money power, and Manorama Devi's bodyguard Rajesh Kumar were arrested on Sunday for allegedly helping the accused escape.


Aditya's friends claim that Rocky fired a warning shot from the SUV, forcing him to stop, after which he was beaten up and then shot at. He died on the spot. 

Bihar: Gaya court to now hear the anticipatory bail plea of suspended JDU MLC Manorama Devi on May 19th. The MLC is still absconding.

As per reports, the Gaya Court also asked for case diary and record of the lower court in this regard.

"The hearing took place today. The judge has asked for the case diary. Her name is not there in the FIR. We have not got any next date. We said that she has been falsely trapped," Devi's lawyer Kaisar Sarfuddin was quoted as saying by ANI.

Devi had filed an anticipatory bail in the court on May 13 after an arrest warrant was issued against her over liquor prohibition.

The Gaya Police had last week sealed the house of the suspended JD (U) legislator, who is said to be on the run after an arrest warrant was issued against her under the new state excise law.

Devi's son Rakesh Ranjan Yadav, alias Rocky, and her husband Bindi Yadav are already in jail over the killing of Aditya Sachdeva, a businessman's son, in a case of road rage last week.

That's a closeup of a gown worn by a Bollywood regular at Cannes. Can you guess who she is?

On this day, 14-year-old Aarushi Talwar and 45-year-old Hemraj Banjade, a domestic worker, employed by her family in Noida, were murdered. Aarushi's parents Rajesh and Nupur Talwar were found guilty in the double murders, in a case that aroused public interest as a whodunit story, and received heavy media coverage.

The obituary ad was tweeted by @churmuri.

In a recent TV interview, Himanta Biswa Sarma, who crossed over from the Congress - where he was once former chief minister Tarun Gogoi's right-hand man - to the Bharatiya Janata Party explained why he did so to Business Standard.

He had no problems with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, whom he described as a woman with dignity and grace. It was with party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi that he had difficulties, Sarma said. Why? Rahul Gandhi had a short attention span, said Sarma. He added that whenever he met Rahul Gandhi the latter would either be playing with his cell phone or with his dog - who would then jump on to the table and eat up all the biscuits, unchecked by its owner.

Bihar police have detained over a dozen suspected people in connection with the killing of a senior journalist of Hindi daily Hindustan in Bihar's Siwan district.

Police claimed to have made a major breakthrough and said they would be solving the case soon.


Rajdeo Ranjan, 46, the Siwan bureau chief of the Hindi newspaper, which is part of the HT Media, was shot dead at a busy market near the Siwan station road on Friday night.


"Over a dozen suspected people including Munshi Mian , have been detained and interrogated in connection with the case," Siwan SP Saurav Kumar Shah said. According to police, Munshi Mian has been detained from Pratapur , which is the village of of jailed former MP Mohammad Shahabuddin.


So far, two people have been arrested in the case including Upender Singh, the sharp shooter of Shahabuddin, and have been remanded to a 14-day judicial custody on Sunday under the new Excise Act.


Bihar DGP P K Thakur said,"We are working to tie in evidence by way of recovering and matching weapons used in the crime." But Thakur has made it clear that police have not been able to locate any eye witnesses in the incident. Police in Siwan said they are awaiting the forensic and ballistic test reports.


The state government has constituted a special investigation team of two DSPs, three inspectors and five sub inspectors in the probe. 


Protests against the killing continued in Patna and other parts of the state on Sunday. Protestors including media persons have demanded justice for Rajdeo's family. 


BJP leaders have demanded a compensation of Rs 25 to Rs 30 lakh for the slain journalist's family and free education to his two minor children. Rajdeo's family including his father, wife and son have demanded a CBI probe into his killing.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav have condemned the killing and directed top police officers to take prompt action in nabbing the culprits.

-- MI Khan/Patna


Pic: Rajdeo Rajan, Hindi daily Hindustans Siwan bureau chief, was shot dead in the Bihar town on Friday evening.

Delhi Police registers a case of rioting against supporters of Asaram Bapu who clashed with police, last night, injuring 7 police personnel

Aditya Sachdeva murder case: Teni Yadav, friend of Rocky Yadav, who surrendered in Gaya court, has been sent to 14 day judicial custody

West Bengal plus two level board exam results announced. 83.65% of 7.89 lakh examinees passed

BJP MP Kirit Somaiya to send legal notice to Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana newspaper and a social activist for allegedly levelling baseless charges against him and his wife in connection with an SRA scam. 

"Everyone should vote, that is a duty," says actor Rajinikanth after casting his vote in Chennai.

Two hours into polling, voting percentage ranges from 7.78 to 9.25%

Tamil Nadu assembly polls: Polling percentage of 18.3% recorded till 9 am.

Nepal: Madhesis start fresh protest for demands leading to more rights, adequate presentation and re-demarcation of provincial boundaries.

Uttarakhand government decides to withdraw notification recommending CBI probe into sting operation episode involving CM Harish Rawat.

Centre to hold consultations with state Health ministers today to formulate a strategy regarding the common medical entrance test.

Assam: Commander in Chief of 'Karbi People's Liberation Tiger' apprehended in an operation by CRPF & Bokajan Police.

Gaya: Hearing on anticipatory bail plea of suspended JDU MLC Manorama Devi deferred for now. The court asks for case diary & record of lower court.