Health department to detach 104 'influential' doctors

By Dinesh Manhotra

JAMMU, Oct 17: Notwithstanding intense pressure being exerted from different quarters, Health and Medical Education Minister, Suman Lata Bhagat, in a bold decision, has given a green signal to higher authorities of her Department to detach ‘influential’ doctors, who have been working in the city against the posts of peripheries.

List of as many as 104 doctors working in the city and adjoining areas on the unsanctioned posts has been finalised for detachment and the order in this regard are being issued within a day or two, highly placed sources told the Excelsior today.

As these attached doctors have links in the corridors of power, Director Health Services, Dr Kailash Kohli is likely to file a caveat in the Court so that the order is implemented in letter and spirit.

Detachment of the doctors will go a long way in providing health facilities to the people of far-flung areas of the Jammu region.

Sources in the Health Department said that for the last two months Health Minister has been working to collect information regarding number of ‘influential’ doctors, who have been attached in the hospitals of the city and adjoining areas for past quite some time. Director Health Services, the sources said, has prepared a list of all the attached doctors, who have been working against unsanctioned posts in the city using their influence.

"The list of attached doctors was finalised in the mid of September and later referred to the Minister for taking final decision", the sources said, adding, "the Minister has finalised list of 104 influntial doctors for their detachment and send them back to their original place of posting".

The order of the detachment of such a large number of doctors was supposed to be issued in the first week of October but was delayed by the Health and Medical Education Minister due to imposion of model code of conduct for Assembly by-elections.

Sources said that the Health Department had sought permission from the Election Commissioner of India as well as from Chief Electrol Officer to issue the order but the Department was directed by the election authorities to withhold the order untill completion of the poll process in the State.

"As the election process has been completed, the detachment order will be issued with in a day or two", sources said.

Keeping in view the influence of these attached doctors, the Director Health Service is likely to file a caveat in the Court so as to implement the order.

"We donot want to take any chance this time", said a senior officer of the Health Department, adding, "with the implementation of the proposed order to detach 104 doctors conditions of the hospitals and health centres located in the peripheries of Jammu region will be improved".

"In the entire Udhampur district only one child specialist doctor is available. Others, who have been posted in the district, have got attached themselves in the city or adjoining areas due to their influence", he said and added that similar was the sitaution in Poonch and Rajouri district.

Out of 200 sanctioned posts of doctors in Doda district, 97 posts have been laying vacant as those who have been appointed on these posts have got themselves ‘illegally transferred’ in Jammu city. Sources said that out of 200 sanctioned posts, 323 doctors have been working in Jammu district.

Sources further said that a large number of doctors have got attached themselves with Police Hospital, Gandhi Nagar Hospital, GB Pant Hospital and Sarwal Hospital.

It is worthwhile to mention here that Director Health Services, Dr Kailash Kohli had himself stated that the Department has been facing with a shortage of 20 percent of the sanctioned staff. For instance out of sanctioned posts of 1150 doctors, the Department has been facing shortage of 350 doctors.

It may be recalled here that Education Minister Harshdev Singh was the first to take initiative in detaching hundreds of attachments of the teachers, lecturers and other posts last year. All these teachers were relatives of influential persons, politicians and bureaucrats, who were detached in one stroke by Mr Singh.

The decision was welcomed by the people as due to this the schools which were without teachers in far off and rural area were given their due.

Civilian killed, 5 of family wounded in Kulgam
6 militants, 4 soldiers killed

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 17: Four Pakistani militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba and two soldiers of Army have got killed in a fierce gunbattle between militants and security forces in Rajwar forest area of Handwara in Kupwara district. Two militants and two soldiers have died in another encounter in Kulgam area. Meanwhile, militants have gunned down a civilian and left five of his family members injured in Kulgam area today.

Informed sources in north Kashmir told the EXCELSIOR that on a specific information, troops of 1-Para, alongwith a unit of Sector-7 and SOG Handwara, launched a search operation at Manzal, in Satkuji area of Rajwar forests, late last evening. During the search operation, a fierce gunbattle took place between militants and security forces. Even as four militants got killed, two of the group managed to escape. Sources said that two soldiers of 1-Para also got killed in the clash.

Though all the slain militants were unidentified, officials claimed that they were Pakistani cadres of Lashkar-e-Toiba.

Sources said that BSF recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition from a militant hideout in Rawalpora village in Handwara area. The seizure included 17 grenades and 10 UBGL rockets.

Informed sources in north Kashmir said that on a specific information, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 9th Bn raided a militant hideout at Malipora in Kulgam area. During the operation, an encounter took place between the holed up militants and security forces. Troops claimed to have killed two militants. One of them was stated to be a Pakistani militant of Lashkar-e-Toiba and another was identified as Gulzar Ahmed Parray R/o Balsoo, Yaripora, Kulgam. Two AK-47 rifles are claimed to have been recovered from the slain duo.

Sources said that two soldiers of RR 9 Bn also got killed in the gunbattle at Malipora. They were identified as Lance Naik S K Gupta and Naik Vijendra Singh.

In Kulgam area, sources said that a group of three armed militants appeared at the residence of a 22-year-old youth, namely Sheeraz Ahmed Mantoo, in Mohammadpora (Mohanpora) village, at 0930 hours today. The gunmen made an attempt to kidnap the youth. When the family members offered resistance, militants opened indiscriminate fire, killing Sheeraz Ahmed on spot. His father Abdul Hameed Mantoo, wife Shameema, mother and two brothers sustained critical injuries in the shootout. They were all rushed to Srinagar and admitted at SMHS Hospital hospital.

It was not immediately clear as to why militants wanted to kidnap Sheeraz Ahmed Mantoo and what led them to kill him in the broad daylight shootout. However, unconfirmed reports said that the Mantoos’ land had been acquired by Health Department for construction of a dispensary. Even after receiving the payment, the family was not allowing the construction which put the whole village against the Mantoos. Police has registered a case and begun to investigate whether there was a possibility of the militants having been used by the villagers.

Some people believe that the militants just wanted to lift Sheeraz and warn him against hampering the construction of the dispensary. However, they opened fire when the Mantoos pounced upon them and tried to disarm them in the scuffle.

Tibet will get greater benefit to remain part of China: Dalai

NEW DELHI, Oct 17: Seemingly reconciled to Tibet’s status as a province of China, the Dalai Lama has said the region would get "a greater benefit" if it remained within the Communist nation as long as its distinct culture was preserved.

"Tibet is backward, it’s a big land, quite rich in natural resources, but we completely lack the technology or expertise (to exploit them). So if we remain within China, we may get a greater benefit, provided it respects our culture and beautiful environment and gives us some kind of guarantee," he said in an interview to `Time’ magazine.

"For us, (it would mean) more modernisation," the pontiff added.

The Dalai Lama along with his followers had escaped to India in 1959 after China invaded Tibet. Since then, the Tibetans are demanding independence - or atleast autonomy -for the region.

Conceding that China was in a "win-win" situation with regard to Tibet, he said "we’re not suggesting separation, (but) that Tibet becomes more prosperous within China - and that it is also in the interests of the people of China to preserve our cultural heritage."

Describing the Chinese Government as "oversuspicious and very cautious", the spiritual leader reposed faith in the people of the country to change its "system" and preserve Tibetan culture.

"Many Communist and authoritarian regimes have changed, including the Soviet Union, not by force but by their own people," he said.

"China (still has) the same system but the reality is that much is changing ... So on that level, the situation in Tibet is hopeful. Today, quite a number of (Chinese) people are showing an interest in the preservation of Tibetan culture and spirituality," the Dalai Lama said. About renewed direct contact with the Chinese Government three years ago, he said "we’re not expecting some major breakthrough - the Tibetan issue is very complicated and China is oversuspicious and very cautious.

"It will take time. However, meeting face to face and having friendly discussions is very, very important," he said adding some Chinese intellectuals, artists and writers supported his "middle-way" approach of "meaningful autonomy".

Admitting that some Tibetans, including his own elder brother, accused him of "selling out their right to independence," he maintained "my approach is actually in our own interest."

The Dalai Lama, however, said the threats to Tibet’s cultural heritage, religious freedom and environment were "very serious" as was the danger that Tibetans would lose their distinct identity.

About the continuation of the institution of the Dalai Lama, considered to be a reincarnation of Tibetan Buddhism’s high priest, he said it was "up to the Tibetan people.

"If they feel it is not relevant, then it will cease and there will be no 15th Dalai Lama. But if I die today, I think they will want another Dalai Lama."

Taking a philosophical view of his 45 years in exile, he said "I think I’ve had a very good opportunity to learn new things, including other traditions." (PTI)

Mufti arrives on 3-day visit

Excelsior Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, Oct 17: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohd Sayeed arrived on a three day visit to the Union Capital from Srinagar this afternoon.

During his stay in New Delhi, Mufti Sayeed is likely to meet Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to discuss with them the present situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

This will be Mufti Sayeed’s first visit to the Union Capital after the coalition partners in the State won all the four Assembly seats on which by-elections were held on October 13. Chief Minister was himself elected from Pahalgam segment in these elections.

VDC member killed, 14 hurt in Billawar grenade attack
*Two ultras escape, VDC snatches rifle

Excelsior Special Correspondent

KATHUA, Oct 17: A Village Defence Committee (VDC) member was killed and 14 others including five VDC members and Special Police Officers (SPOs) were injured when two militants lobbed a grenade on a Village Defence Committee (VDC), deployed for protection of Ram Lila at Khog Bus Stand near Mandli, about 10 kms from Billawar late this evening.

The militants escaped in the melee after throwing the grenade but the VDC members, SPOs and cops managed to snatch one AK-47 rifle, its magazines and one kit from the possession of militants.

Official sources said the VDC members became doubtful about two persons when they were moving at Khog Bus Stand, where the VDC was deployed for protection of Ram Lila. A passenger bus from Dayala Chak had also reached Khog when the suspects were spotted.

The VDC members asked the suspects to come for searches but the latter refused.

As the VDC members insisted on their searches before letting them go, one of the militants brought out a grenade from his pithoo bag and threw it on the VDC members and the SPOs. The grenade exploded with a bang leading to panic among the bus passengers, who had just boarded off and other people.

In the melee, the militants managed to escape but the VDC members and SPOs snatched one AK-47 rifle, magazines, a pithoo bag and a kit from their possession, the sources said.

Fifteen persons were injured in the blast. One of them Balbir Singh son of Gian Chand R/o Khog, a VDC member later succumbed to his injuries.

A police party from Mandli and Billawar led by SDPO Kaushal Kumar left for the spot along with enforcement of security forces. The team reached the spot late tonight and cordoned off the area to launch a hunt for the militants, who were believed to be hiding in a surrounding area.

Seven injured were shifted to sub district hospital in Billawar late tonight while others were given first-aid at Khog, BMO Billawar Dr Basant Kumar said.

Injured referred to Jammu have been identified as Parveen Singh S/o Vikram Singh, Jagjeet Singh S/o Rattan Singh, Anil Singh S/o Talab Singh, Kaku Ram S/o Balak, Sunil Singh S/o Talab Singh, Raveti Raman S/o Suraj Singh and Ashok Kumar S/o Balak Ram, all residents of Khog.

Sources said one of the militants was carrying an identity card of Government high school, Khnair. It, however, couldn’t be ascertained as to whether the identity card was fake or genuine.

Sources said the militants might have come to Khog with an intention to carry out an attack tonight either on Ram Lila or on the security forces or the civilians.

"However, recovery of AK-47 rifle from the militants by the VDC members has thwarted their designs", the sources said, adding it was due to alertness and high presence of mind shown by the VDC members that the militants’ plan was foiled.

Local people have lauded role of the VDC members.

The VDC members told police that they became doubtful of the activities of the militants since they clearly appeared to be the strangers.

"The militants were outsiders", they told police adding they, however, didn’t appear to be Pakistanis.

Meanwhile, security forces and police have started a massive search operation in Khog forests for the militants.

Jet fighters thunder over Mumbai

MUMBAI, Oct 17: The otherwise sunny October afternoon calm over the picture-postcard Marine Drive was shattered as Indian Air Force (IAF) jet-fighters thundered over the skies, displaying its awesome prowess at the much-awaited air show today.

The metallic birds criss-crossed the skies over this city at thunderbolt speed even as over three lakh crowd here cheered, clapped and praising the IAF’s capabilities.

As many as 45 aircraft and helicopters of the IAF and a Boeing and Airbus of the international-carrier Air-India took part in the nearly one-hour event, held to commemorate the birth centenary of JRD Tata, the Father of Indian Aviation, and also the 50th year of Air Marshal Subroto Mukherjee taking over the reins of the IAF.

The formidable Russian-made Sukhois, however, stole the show as a flight instructor and test pilot with over 3,900 hours of flying, took to the skies and performed a ‘Vertical Charlie’ (a three-and-a-half roll) and zooming vertical loops. The SU-30 MKI also performed a very-difficult ‘Super-Cobra’ manoeuvre, and then carried out a low-speed run so that the Mumbaikars have a close look at the frontline war-machine in the inventory of the IAF.

Sukhois are twin-engine multi-role fighter aircraft and can be used for air defence, deep penetration strikes, electronic warfare and even ground attack operations, air defence missions and maritime air strikes.

A four-engine IK-78 air tanker, which is the latest induction in the IAF, performed an air-to-air refuelling with two Sukhois. Acting as a force multiplier, the air refuller gives the force a longer endurance and range.

The SU-30 MKIs also escorted an Airbus A-310 and a Boeing 747-400 commercial jetliners. It was probably the first time in the history of India that both civil and military aircraft flew side-by-side. The call sign of this exercise was ‘Guardian’.

Air-India’s A-310 is a twin-engine medium-lift aircraft used to carry passengers and cargo, while the Boeing is a heavy aircraft of American origin.

The screeching SU-30s and MiG-29s also performed mock air patrol and mock combat — demonstrating to the audience as to how the IAF carries out different operations in the skies be it over the blue seas, mountains, deserts and jungles, day or even night. (UNI)

Srinagar-Delhi route under apex scheme

Excelsior Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 17: The Srinagar-Delhi route has been brought under the apex fare scheme of Indian Airlines and Sahara.

With the introduction of this scheme, normal air fare for the route which was Rs 5205 per individual for Sahara and Indian Airlines has now been reduced to Rs 2900, an official spokesman said here today.

In addition, Sahara Airlines has also introduced special point-to-point reduced fares for travel to or from Srinagar to Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore, he said. The fares under the scheme are cheaper by about 30 per cent, he said adding the tickets have to be booked in advance.

Accordingly, Sahara has reduced the Srinagar to Mumbai fare to Rs 8,250 from Rs 11,160, Srinagar-Kolkata fare from Rs 13,710 to Rs 10,440 and for Srinagar-Bangalore the fare would be Rs 13,860 from existing fare of Rs 15,910.

Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who has thanked the airlines for including Srinagar under the fare-reduction scheme, has hoped "this would strengthen the State tourism industry."

Winning 'Lakhpatis' reign over contesting 'crorepatis'

MUMBAI, Oct 17: They are the ‘Lakhpatis’ of a different kind.

In an Assembly election, where ‘crorepatis’ (in monetory terms) contested in abundance, these ‘Lakhpatis’ stand as more elite with money not being the reason for fetching votes for them.

Three MLAs have won by over a margin of a lakh and more votes while nearly 30 candidates have been able to garner more than one lakh votes. This is noteworthy because the Assembly segments’ population is not as large as that in UP and Bihar, where candidates like Ram Vilas Paswan have won by record margins of over four lakh.

The leader among the winning candidates is the Belapur MLA Ganesh Naik of NCP who has won by a margin of 1,18,303 votes. Naik also got the highest number of votes as 3,24,706 voters exercised their franchise in his favour.

The other two winning ‘Lakhpatis’ who won with a margin of over one lakh votes are Patangrao Kadam of Congress from Bhilwadi-Wangi and Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil of NCP from Malshiras, who have won by margins of 1,01,900 and 1,04,712 votes respectively.

The other notable winning candidates who have polled more than one lakh votes include Hitendra Thakur (Ind -1,61,559) from Vasai, Gajanan Kirtikar (shs - 1,42,723) from Malad (north west Mumbai), Gopal Shetty (BJP - 1,52,682) from Borivali (north Mumbai).

The list also includes Khan Mohammed Arif Naseem Khan (inc - 1,19,607) from Kurla (central Mumbai), Jayant Patil (NCP - 1,20,830) from Walva, Vilasrao Deshmukh (inc -1,47,033) from Latur and Ashokrao Chavan (inc - 1,05,932) from Mudkhed.

Apart from these, there are some losing candidates also who have secured over one lakh votes and lost by narrow margins. (PTI)

NCP-Cong win despite negative swing

MUMBAI, Oct 17: Despite a negative swing of 11.25 per cent in its vote share, the ruling NCP-Congress combine managed to secure 140 seats in the just-concluded Maharashtra Assembly polls, riding roughshod over the much-hyped anti-incumbency factor.

Surprisingly, the NCP, which emerged as the single largest party by bagging 71 seats, had to face the negative swing of 4.4 per cent in its vote share compared to 1999 Assembly polls. Its vote share came down from 22.6 per cent in the previous Assembly polls to 18.20 per cent this time.

An arduous campaign by NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who criss-crossed Maharashtra addressing nearly 100 rallies, apparently helped the party improve its position by 13 seats.

Congress saw its vote share decline by 6.85 per cent, against 27.2 per cent in 1999. It lost six seats this time, compared to 75 in the previous poll.

Interestingly, Shiv Sena was the only major political party, which had a 2.06 per cent vote swing in its favour. The saffron party, however, lost seven seats this time, reducing its tally to 62.

Sena’s ally BJP sufferred a loss of 1.27 per cent in its vote share compared to 1999 Assembly polls and lost two seats, bringing down its tally to 54 in 2004 polls.

The combined vote share of the Sena-BJP was (+0.73 ) but the saffron siblings together lost nine seats.

It indicated their failure to translate the "anti-incumbency factor" in their favour.

The BJP state unit chief Gopi Nath Munde was candid in accepting that the opposition "clearly failed to make use of the strong anti-incumbency factor against the inefficient Democratic Front Government".

A region-wise statistics indicate that NCP has clearly made deep inroads in Konkan, the pocketborough of the Sena, bagging nine seats, five more than its tally in the 1999.

On the contrary, its complacency and rebellion cost the Sena in its stronghold of Konkan, where the party faced a negative vote share of 19.35 per cent and losing three seats reducing its tally to 12 this time.

Similarly, in Mumbai, considered a Sena bastion, NCP bagged four seats, with a positive vote share of 5.22 per cent working in its favour.

The Sena sufferred a loss of two seats in Mumbai with a swing of 1.49 per cent against it, while the BJP lost two seats and sufferred a loss of 9.37 per cent of the vote share.

In Vidarbha, a traditional stronghold of Congress, where the party sufferred loss of 15.5 per cent vote share over its performance in 1999, lost seven seats, bringing down its tally to 19 this time.

A negative swing of 14.34 per cent saw BJP losing one seat in Vidarbha bringing down its tally to 20 as compared to the previous elections.

But NCP surely made inroads in the Congress bastion of Vidarbha by gaining six seats with a positive vote share of 0.52 per cent working in its favour.

In western Maharashtra, the sugar belt of the State and a Sharad Pawar stronghold, the NCP witnessed a negative swing of 20.66 in its vote share, reducing its tally to 25, nine less than 1999 Assembly poll results.

Similarly, Congress faced a negative vote swing of 7.04 in western Maharashtra that saw its tally being reduced to 16, two less than that of its figure in 1999.

But BJP and Sena had a positive vote share of 2.38 per cent and 6.01 per cent working in their favour compared to previous Assembly polls.

Though a swing in vote share favouring them, the Sena lost one seat in the sugar belt but its ally BJP added four more to its kitty, compared to the 1999 Assembly elections.

The BSP and the SP, contesting 272 and 95 seats respectively and expecting to make a dent in the "secular votes", drew a naught in the just-conlcuded polls.

However, the BSP’s vote share of 3.88 per cent was clearly an indicator of the party making its presence felt in the state politics. It had secured merely 0.39 per cent votes in the 1999 polls.

Similarly, SP gained 0.4 per cent of votes by securing 1.09 per cent vote share this time. (PTI)

Newly elected Cong MLA dead

MUMBAI, Oct 17: Newly-elected Congress MLA from Nagpur South, Govindrao Wanjari, died here tonight following a massive heart attack, party sources said.

Wanjari suffered the heart attack at ‘Varsha’, the official residence of Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and was admitted to Jaslok hospital where he breathed his last at 9.40 pm.

Wanjari was elected to the State Assembly in the just-concluded polls defeating BJP’s Mohan Mate by a margin of over 9000 votes.

Earlier, immediately after the 1999 Assembly polls, the Congress MLA from Colaba in South Mumbai, Merzban Patrawala, had died before taking the oath of membership.

Wanjari, 69, was elected to the State Assembly after a span of 27 years and had earlier represented the same constituency in 1978. (PTI)

CM issue remains contentious in Maharashtra
Congress-NCP to apply 1999 formula

NEW DELHI, Oct 17: The victorious Congress-NCP combine in Maharashtra today failed to reach a consensus on the post of Chief Minister, but decided to form the Government on the basis of the formula, adopted during the formation of the Coalition Government after the 1999 Assembly elections.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar held a 30-minute meeting this morning at Ms Gandhi’s 10 Janpath residence in a bid to break the ice so that the Government formation is not delayed as in the case of 1999.

Since the issue of Chief Minister remained contentious, they agreed to move forward keeping the 1999 formula as the basis for deciding the issue of Chief Minister.

The meeting nominated Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel (NCP) and Ms Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel to meet in Mumbai and sort out the issue, indicating that the Government formation would be delayed for three to four days.

The Congress Legislature Party and the legislature group of the NCP would meet in Mumbai tomorrow to elect their respective leaders.

Mr Pawar told newspersons after the meeting that the formula had been successfully implemented for the past five years and, therefore, there was no difficulty in sorting out the issue gracefully.

According to the 1999 formula, the party having the maximum number of MLAs would get the Chief Ministership, while the Deputy Chief Minister’s post will go to the second-biggest alliance partner.

With the Congress and the NCP deciding to take recourse to the 1999 formula, both the parties have started hectic efforts individually to enlist the support of independents and others to top the list to stake claim for the post of Chief Minister. While AICC general secretary in charge of Maharashtra Margaret Alva claimed in Mumbai that the Congress has the support of 74 MLAs, including 69 of its own and three of CPI(M) and two independents, NCP leader D P Tripathi said here that the party would have the support of 80 MLAs. NCP general secretary T P Peethambaran said the eight NCP rebels, who won the election, would support the party, which has 71 seats on its own.

"We will decide the issue in a friendly atmosphere, gracefully," Mr Pawar said, adding : "During the meeting with Ms Gandhi, I told her that the 1999 formula would be the basis for deciding the Chief Ministership. Having agreed to this formula... It is now for the two parties to meet and ascertain the number of MLAs they have."

"Both parties will exchange the lists," he said.

Mr Pawar said, "since the NCP has emerged as the largest party among the coalition partners, the Chief Minister will be from the party."

The NCP chief explained that the 1999 formula also provided for distribution of major portfolios between the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister.

Indications are that the issue would not be settled so soon and that it would take more than three days. "So many aspects have to be taken into consideration in a coalition set-up. The issue will be resolved amicably. But it will take at least three days," AICC general secretary Ambika Soni told newspersons here.

While the state Congress leaders, aided by the party high command, have been making all-out efforts in Maharashtra to win over many of the independents, including the six victorious Congress rebels, both the camps are undertaking a similar exercise in Delhi too.

Congress leaders are in constant touch with the CPI (M) to enlist the direct support of its three elected members. The NCP seems to be not lagging behind. NCP leader D P Tripathi personally visited the "A K Gopalan Bhavan", the headquarters of the CPI(M) central committee, and held discussions with politburo member Sitaram Yechuri.

After the meeting, Mr Yechuri refused to divulge the purpose for which Mr Tripathi, a confidant of Mr Pawar, had visited the CPI(M) headquarters. He, however, said it was for the Congress and the NCP to sort out the issue. The only interest of the CPI(M) was that a secular Government should be in place in Maharashtra without delay.

He did not comment on the claim of Ms Alva that the three CPI(M) MLAs would support the Congress.

Mr Tripathi said it was a "courtesy visit," but claimed that the NCP would have a list of 80 supporting MLAs by this evening.

Mr Tripathi claimed that with 71 MLAs, the NCP was the single largest party, and the post of Chief Minister is due to it.

Mr Peethambaran said it was a fact that the NCP was the single largest party and there was no need to see how many independents and others supported it.

Though the CPI(M) is supporting the ruling United Progressive Alliance, in which both the Congress and the NCP, are partners, it was in a state of confusion as to whom it should extend ‘direct support’ as it would be decisive in improving upon the tally of both the contending parties. The CPI(M) and the CPI could not hammer out a pact with the Congress-NCP alliance on the eve of the elections and they contested on their own.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi held a lengthy discussion with her political secretary Ahmed Patel at her official residence immediately after her 30-minute meeting with Mr Pawar.

Both 10 Janpath and 6 Janpath (official residence of Mr Pawar), venue of the hectic parleys, looked deserted.

AICC sources said Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad would attend the CLP meeting in Mumbai tomorrow as its observers. (UNI)

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