Political parties have launched hectic preparation for the forthcoming byelections in the Umerkote Assembly segment of Orissa’s Nowrangpur district. The BJP has already declared local leader Dharmu Ganda as its candidate while the Congress and the ruling BJD are yet announce their nominees. Sources in the Congress said it might field tribal leader Parama Pujari as its candidate. The BJD has sent two ministers, revenue minister S.N. Patro and rural development minister Bikram Arukh, to the constituency to study the ground situation and recommend a prospective candidate’s name. The Assembly seat was vacant following assassination of BJD legislator Jagabandh Majhi on September 24.
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Rajasthan CM Gehlot meets Sonia Gandhi
age correspondent
Jaipur, Nov. 3
Chief minister Ashok Gehlot has called on Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday evening in Delhi. The sources said Congress chief’s political adviser Ahmed Patel was present during the meeting. According to the sources, the CM briefed the Congress president about the political development in the state and the steps taken in Gopalgarh after the violence last month.
According to the sources, the CM was in Delhi for last four days and had a series of meetings with party in-charge for Rajasthan Mukul Wasnik and met Mr Patel twice.
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Yeddy gets bail in 1 case, hopes for 2nd
age CORRESPONDENT
Bengaluru, Nov. 3
In a huge relief for former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, the high court on Thursday granted conditional bail, mainly on the ground that the charges levelled against him were in the nature of bailable offence and that he is not a habitual offender. The bail was granted in the case relating to denotification lands at Arakere, Geddalahalli and Devarachikka-nahalli on the condition that he produce personal bond of `5 lakhs each, along with two sureties of like amount. However, despite the conditional bail, Mr Yeddyurappa’s stay in Parappana Agrahara Central prison will depend upon whether the court will grant him bail in another case too, the orders in which are expected on Friday.
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Two orissa ministers deny role in land scam
age correspondent
Bhubaneswar, nov. 3
Two of former Orissa ministers whose names figured in a precious land plot and house accommodation expose, denied having misused their power. The ex-ministers — Kanak Bardhan Singhdeo and Samir Dey belonging to the BJP — clarified that they had not misused their discretionary power to allot land plots and houses to judges, IAS and IPS officers as shown in the national television channel. “We have never misused our discretionary power. The plots and houses were accommodated as per the existing law and provisions,” said Mr Singhdeo. Besides Mr Singhdeo and Mr Dey, senior BJD leader and present state higher education minister’s name has also cropped in the land and house accommodation irregularity.