Impossible to fight ‘US imperialism without Congress’: Left leader

KOLKATA - It is not possible to fight American imperialism without the Congress, declared maverick Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Subhas Chakraborty here Monday.

Congress failed to tackle terrorism: Modi

KULLU - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Monday accused the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government of being weak in fighting terrorism.

Campaigning ends for West Bengal’s final phase of polling

KOLKATA - After rising to a crescendo over the past couple of days, campaigning ended Monday in 11 Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal that go to the polls in the final phase Wednesday.

Marxists falling at Congress’ feet for alliance, says Mamata

KOLKATA - Asserting that its tie-up with the Congress will stretch beyond the Lok Sabha polls, West Bengal’s principal opposition Trinamool Congress Monday ridiculed the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) for trying to endear itself to the Congress.

Specter indicates he’s open to public health insurance plan, dropping his previous opposition

WASHINGTON — Sen. Arlen Specter says he’s open to a government health insurance plan that would compete with private insurers to cover middle-class Americans, a policy reversal for the newest Democrat.

Maoist protesters, police clash outside Nepal presidential palace

KATHMANDU - Maoist protesters and riot police clashed in front of Nepal’s presidential palace on Monday.

UPA will form government, NDA will split: PM (Roundup)

LUDHIANA - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asserted Monday that all ‘possibilities’ were open for alliances after the May 16 Lok Sabha election results.

Will he, won’t he?

NEW DELHI - Uttar Pradesh’s politically volatile Rampur constituency is abuzz with speculation over whether or not disgruntled Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan will joining the Congress.

No question of backing Left if it wants to take power: PM

LUDHIANA - Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today said there is no question of backing the Left if it wants to take power.

‘Pawar has good chances of becoming PM, if Congress, BJP fail’

MUMBAI - If Congress and BJP fail to get a majority after the announcement of the Lok Sabha election results, NCP President Sharad Pawar will stand a good chance of becoming the Prime Minister, Maharashtra Finance Minister Dilip Walse-Patil said on Monday.

Buddhadeb doubtful about Trinamool remaining with Congress

KOLKATA - West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Monday questioned the political standing of the Trinamool Congress and said he doubted whether it would stay with the Congress coalition after the Lok Sabha elections.

Prachanda meets envoys, foreign donors

KATHMANDU - Ambassadors from 16 countries, multinational donors and chief of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) Karen Landgren have jointly called on acting Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda here today amid uncertainties over formation of new government and postponement of the Nepal Development Forum (NDF) meet.

Three-time MP Vinod Khanna seeks an encore

GURDASPUR - Bollywood veteran Vinod Khanna is seeking a fourth term in parliament from Gurdaspur in Punjab even as he fights the tag of an ‘outsider’ and ‘absentee MP’. Critics say the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate stays in Mumbai and New Delhi most of the time, rarely visiting Gurdaspur.

Deve Gowda’s hopes of playing national role fade

BANGALORE - Former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda turns 77 two days after the election results will be known on May 16, but it is highly unlikely he would want to celebrate, as his dreams of playing a major role in a non-Congress, non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formation are rapidly fading.

Treading up the Himalayas, spending a night out - to vote

SHIMLA - They have to trudge miles of rugged, cold and inhospitable Himalayan terrain before they cast their vote, sometimes spending a chilly night at the polling station. Yet voters in the tribal belt of Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh have done so year after year with gusto.

Canadians join in as Tamils take to streets again

TORONTO - After a lull of a few days, more than 5,000 Tamils and their non-Tamil supporters took to the streets here Saturday to protest the alleged genocide by Sri Lankan forces in the name of eliminating the Tamil Tigers.

Only Congress can give a strong govt. to the country: Sonia Gandhi

DEHRADUN - Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday asserted that only a Congress-led government could give a strong government to the people of the country and treat all sections of society equally.

Now Rahul Gandhi targets Chandrababu Naidu

MOHALI - After having raised quite a storm in national political circles by his praise of opposition leaders like Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Saturday targeted the latter at an election rally here, though without naming him.

Nine dead in Bengal post-poll clashes, Nandigram flares up

KOLKATA - Nine people, including a toddler and a teenager, were killed and several wounded as Left activists fought pitched battles with opposition supporters using bombs, firearms and sharp weapons in several districts of West Bengal in spiralling post-poll violence.

Congressman seeks to end online gambling ban, pushes bill to regulate industry

WASHINGTON — It’s time to regulate gambling on the Internet rather than outlaw it, says Rep. Barney Frank, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.

Lalu, Paswan skip cabinet meeting, stay with UPA

NEW DELHI - Three key constituents of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) skipped a cabinet meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called here Friday evening, but said they were still part of the coalition.

UPA government will stand by Sri Lankan Tamils: Rahul

TIRUCHIRAPALLI - Striking an emotive chord with the people of Tamil Nadu, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Friday said Sri Lankan Tamil civilians will have to be given their due political rights and the party will ’stand by the Tamil people’.

Only democratic solution to Sri Lankan problem: Rahul

SIVAGANGA - Civilians in Sri Lanka need to be protected and any solution to the island nation’s problem will have to come through the democratic way, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi said here Friday.

Nepal opposition calls for fresh count of Maoist troops

KATHMANDU - Nepal’s biggest opposition party Nepali Congress Friday stepped up its call for a fresh headcount of Maoist guerrilla fighters after a videotape showed Maoist chief and caretaker premier Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda saying he had inflated their number nearly fivefold.

CPI-M again attacks Manmohan on foreign policy

NEW DELHI - The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has once again attacked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for what it calls his pro-American foreign policy even as Congress leaders are trying to get the support of Left parties and their Third Front allies to form the government at the centre.

CPI-M accuses Trinamool of rigging in West Bengal

NEW DELHI - Alleging that many polling booths were ‘forcibly captured’ by Trinamool Congress activists, the state’s ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Thursday demanded re-polling in 50 voting stations in West Bengal.

Rajasthan polling ends, around 50 percent turnout expected

JAIPUR - Polling for the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan ended Thursday evening with stray incidents of violence reported from parts of the state. One man was killed in police firing on a mob trying to capture a booth, officials said. The overall turnout was expected to be around 50 percent.

Congress pacifies Trinamool angry over Rahul’s Left remark

NEW DELHI/KOLKATA - A worried Congress party promised Wednesday not to do anything that hurts the Trinamool Congress after the latter threatened a divorce if the Congress tied up with the Left after the Lok Sabha elections.

`Prachandagate’ video tape smears Nepal’s peace process

KATHMANDU - A video tape where Nepal’s outgoing premier Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda tells his cadres that the country’s peace process is no more than a tactic has been leaked to embarras his Maoist government that now rules as a caretaker. But it may end up embarrassing other major parties as well and cast doubts about the credibility of the peace process.

Pak on brink of chaos: Expert

LAHORE - Pakistan is on the brink of chaos and is deteriorating, and in such a situation, the United States should be flexible enough in preventing that country from sinking into a political and lawless abyss dominated by Talibanisation, feels a Pakistani journalist.