Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah met a string of Central leaders in the capital on Tuesday to review the law and order situation in his troubled state. Among those he met were Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union home minister P. Chidambaram and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Responding to Anna Hazare's complaint against her "colleagues", Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday assured him that she does not support "politics of smear campaign" and she was strongly committed to the institution of Lokpal.

The Opposition BJP is gearing up to give a tough time to Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and chalked out a month-long programme to raise the issue of nepotism and corruption.

Civil rights activist Binayak Sen, who is serving life sentence after being convicted of sedition by a Raipur court on December 24, could enjoy his supper with his family in his home here on Monday after a gap of nearly four months, thanks to Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh, who asked his officials to “keep their hands off” the doctor by rejecting their suggestions to contest the bail granted to him by Supreme Court on December 15.

Criticising the statements of some ruling party leaders against members of the Lokpal Bill drafting committee, the BJP on Tuesday alleged that corruption has become “Congress-centric.” The party alleged the UPA has given “supari (contract)” to professionals to defame the anti-corruption campaign of Mr Anna Hazare.

In a move aimed at killing two birds in one stroke, the Congress strategists are asking noted social activist Anna Hazare to launch his nationwide campaign against corruption from Narendra Modi-run Gujarat. “He could start the campaign from any Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state,” a CWC member said. The suggestion has come at a time when the main Opposition has been trying to fix the Congress over the graft issue inside and outside Parliament.

Unnerved over realignment of political forces opposed to her, BSP supremo and UP chief minister Mayawati is reportedly mulling over advancing the state Assembly election to as early as November this year or latest by February next year.

With an eye on the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, senior BJP leaders from the state will be holding a meeting on Wednesday. The meeting, chaired by party chief Nitin Gadkari and other central leaders, will take stock of the party’s preparation for the state Assembly polls, scheduled in 2012.

With elections fast approaching, UP chief minister Mayawati is now determined to refurbish the image of her government and for this she is ready to put even senior leaders in the party and officers in the government on the chopping block.

A special city court on Wednesday denied bail to five corporate executives named as co-accused in the case involving the award of second generation (2G) telecom spectrum during the tenure of former communications minister A. Raja. judge O.P. Saini.