The last date of filing nomination papers is February 15 and last date of withdrawal of nominations is February 18. Counting of votes will take place on March 7.

In the 60-member House, 55 seats are reserved for the Scheduled Tribes.

As per the revised electoral rolls, over 12.30 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise.

The state Chief Electoral Officer P Naik informed that only few cases of violation of code of conduct were registered which have been referred to the Chief Election Commission.

Out of 1582 polling stations, 635 have been declared hyper sensitive and 194 have been declared as sensitive.

Forty companies of central paramilitary forces are to be deployed during the poll.

The current term of the Meghalaya Assembly ends on March 10.

Meanwhile, the BJP has said that party veterans LK Advani, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swarja and Narendra Modi would campaign in three polls North Eastern states of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura.

Talking to news persons at New Delhi, the party leader Rajiv Prakash Ruddy said that all the four leaders would campaign in phases.

Mr Ruddy also urged the Election Commission to ensure a peaceful poll in three states. The dates for the visit of the leaders have not yet been fixed, he added.

Earlier, BJP had formed a think tank to study the problems of the long neglected NE region. The think tank was headed by former Union Minister and renowned columnist Arun Shourie. 

Similarly, Union Minister in-charge Parliamentary Affairs Priya Ranjan Das Munshi will arrive in Shillong on Friday 8 to release the Congress manifesto.

During his whirlwind visit to Shillong, the Union Minister would meet all the Congress candidates and other senior Congress leaders to discuss poll strategies in Meghalaya, especially in Nationalist Congress Party's heartland in Garo Hills.

Mr Das Munsi will be accompanied by AICC secretary in-charge Meghalaya Maj (Retd) Ved Prakash.

After the Union Minister's visit, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will lead the campaign trail in the three states. (Agencies and Our Spl Correspondent)

TURA: NCP strongman and Lok Sabha MP from Tura Purno A Sangma may come under the scanner of the Election Commission for circulating a CD containing photo and video clips on the September-30 firing incidents in Tura and Williamnagar.

The CD row surrounding Mr Sangma has come to light following a complaint lodged with the DC-cum-Returning Officer, Tura about the former Lok Sabha Speaker's alleged attempt to gain electoral mileage out of the firing incidents that took place in 2005.

The CD titled "Chakat A'chik Me'a Me'chik", which means arise Garo men and women, was supposed to be part of the NCP's election campaign. It shows Mr Sangma speaking about the need to bring about a change for betterment of Garo Hills as well as Meghalaya.

While the CD has colourful pictures of his meetings with top leaders of the world, including former US President Bill Clinton, Queen Elizabeth of England and the king of Saudia Arabia, it is the raking up of the September-30 issue that has angered GSU and family members of those who lost their loved ones in the firing incidents.

The September 30th Victims Solidarity Forum and GSU have accused NCP and its leader Mr Sangma of harping on "cheap publicity stunts" for garnering public support for his party.

"The statement made in his publication (CD) highlighting his return to State politics, considering the MBoSE issue and leadership crisis in Meghalaya, is a welcome move, but highlighting the September-30 incidents for his political gain has hurt the sentiments of the bereaved families who were never informed about the launch of the CD," GSU said.

Sources said tension ran high along the Indo-Bangladesh border on Thursday morning when personnel of BSF and BDR lost their cool before raising their arms and pointing them at each other. The incident took place after BDR men, along with some Bangladeshis, had reportedly moved into the Umngot on Indian side of the border to steal boulders from the river. Officers from both the forces, however, intervened in the matter and brought the situation under control. "BSF requested BDR to ask its people not to steal boulders from Indian land. But BDR personnel refused to comply with the BSF request and instead lifted their arms and pointed them towards BSF personnel, forcing the latter to raise their arms," sources said.

After the incident, BSF and BDR have deployed more personnel on both sides of the Indo-Bangladesh border.

TURA: Garo Hills will a see a variety of candidates, including a former Chief Minister, an incumbent Deputy Chief Minister and a former Deputy Chief Minister, seek their electoral fortune in the March-3 polls.

Among those throwing their hat into the ring are 24 sitting MLAs and ten MDCs from the Garo Hills District Council, besides former Chief Minister Salseng C Marak, incumbent Deputy Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and former Deputy Chief Minister Debora C Marak.

Salseng C Marak, the only politician after Late (Captain) Williamson A Sangma to have completed a full five-year term as Meghalaya's Chief Minister, is making a comeback as Congress candidate from Resubelpara constituency. Mr Marak will take on arch rival and sitting NCP MLA Timothy D Shira. The former Chief Minister was defeated by Mr Shira in the 2003 Assembly elections.

The two present and former Deputy Chief Ministers Dr Sangma and Mrs Marak are set to take on their opponents from NCP, UDP, BJP and also Independents in Ampati and Rongrenggiri (Williamnagar) constituencies respectively.

Dr Sangma is pitted against NCP's Clement Sangma and three Independents, including sitting MDC Binvichand Sangma, former MLA Monindro Agitok and Dharmeswar Koch.

Mrs Marak will face a resurgent UDP in Williamnagar where the party has fielded a student leader Newton Marak. She is also going to face a tough contest from another rival NCP's Marcuise Marak, who narrowly lost to her in the last election.

Garo Hills District Council (GHADC) members are also trying their luck at the State-level politics with ten sitting MDCs joining the fray. They are Mrinal Marak (NCP) in Tikrikilla, Joshburden Sangma (Ind) in Dadenggre, Purno K Sangma (NCP) in Rongram, John Leslee K Sangma (Ind) in Tura, Panseng R Marak (NCP) in Dalu, Saleng A Sangma (Congress) in Dalamgre, Binvichand Sangma (Ind) in Ampati, Wenison Marak (Ind) in Chokpot, Nihim D Shira (NCP) in Songsak and Brigady Marak (UDP) in Bajengdoba.

Medical and veterinary doctors have also thrown their surgical gloves into the election bandwagon. Former veterinary doctor Jimmy Momin is trying his luck for the second time from Rongram seat, while medical doctor Sixstar Sangma is making his first entry into politics from Rangsakona constituency.

Government officials who took voluntary retirement to be in the fray comprise former South Garo Hills DC Arleen N Sangma (Chokpot) and agriculture officer David Ch Marak (Ind from Dandenggre). Former BDO Marton Sangma is also being fielded by NCP in Mendipather constituency.

SHILLONG: Mylliem Legislator Pynshai Manik Syiem on Thursday said if re-elected to the State Assembly, he would encourage young women to get married to "protect Khasi women."

Talking to this reporter, Mr Syiem said if he won the election again he would try to help protect Khasi women by encouraging them to get married at young age so that they would not face any difficulties in getting their maintenance, specially when "the husband decided to settle with another woman."

"Marriage certificate will serve as a proof, if they decide to approach the court for their maintenance," Mr Syiem said.

He also promised to give a young woman Rs 10,000 as a token of appreciation for making the right decision on her marriage and added it did not matter whether the wedding took place at the Church or as per traditional Khasi system.

Mr Syiem also claimed that he would record a bigger poll victory this time over his opponents, including two dissidents of Congress and a sitting Congress MDC.

"My goal is to work harder for the good of the constituency. No doubt, Mylliem has developed. I want to make it a shinning constituency," Mr Syiem said.

"I also believe that road connectivity can increase purchasing power of the people. If I manage to come back as an MLA, I would try to build more roads to improve the connectivity between the various villages of the constituency," he added.

He further asserted that people had appreciated his decision to join NCP.

Mr Syiem is the only legislator in the State who has won three consecutive elections to the State Assembly as an Independent candidate.

SHILLONG: Soon after assuming office as KHADC CEM, a tough-talking Cleophas B Syiem on Thursday said his predecessor HS Shyalla would have to face probe for failing to highlight in the Council budget the amount of Rs 20 crore given by UCIL for constitution of Wahkaji-Mawthabah road and that his "arbitrary" decision to privatise revenue collection would be scrapped.

Spelling out his priorities after taking charge as the new Council chief, Mr Syiem said an inquiry would be ordered into the failure of the Shylla-led Executive Committee to place the Rs-20 crore UCIL funding for Wahkaji-Mawthabah road construction in the KHADC budget.

"The former CEM had committed a blunder by not entering the amount given by UCIL for Wahkaji-Mawthabah road construction in the KHADC budget. This matter will be investigated properly," Mr Syiem said.

The new CEM said the decision of Mr Shylla to privatise revenue collection on trade license renewal, professional tax and work permits "without the knowledge of EC members" would be revoked soon.

Mr Syiem also dismissed the charge that he, along with other Executive Committee (EC) members, had remained silent on issues, particularly Wahkaji-Mawthabah road construction, during Mr Shylla's tenure, adding he had taken up the matter from time to time with the former CEM but to no avail.

"Several decisions taken by Mr Shylla had affected the image of the KHADC, besides being detrimental to the Council's existence. We have all along protested against such decisions but without any success," Mr Syiem added.

According to Mr Syiem, the names of new EC members will be submitted to Governor SS Sidhu soon. Experience and efficiency would be the criteria of the new EC.

Earlier, Mr Syiem was unanimously elected as KHADC CEM with all parties, including UDP, MDP and KHNAM, extending their support to him. He was also congratulated in the House by Hardinge L Massar (UDP), Martle N Mukhim (MDP), Founder S Cajee (Congress) and Ronnie V Lyngdoh (Congress).

SHILLONG: The State Government ban on poll campaigns by teachers of schools, colleges and other government-aided educational institutions has drawn criticism from the teaching community.

Talking to The Shillong Times, a teacher of city-based KJP Higher Secondary School BK Khongjirem, who also held the post of MDP general secretary, expressed unhappiness over the government directive and argued that "according to Section 2 (b) of Meghalaya Education Code, any employee of government-aided institutions can take part in any political party with the consent of the school or college authority concerned."

He said the government order indicated that private institutions had no autonomy, and they were becoming "a puppet" in the hands of the government.

"I joined the political party (MDP) in accordance with provisions of the law," Mr Khongjirem added.

Khasi Jaintia Deficit School Teachers' Association (KJDSTA) president and UDP member Everald D Nongsiang also shared Mr Khongjirem's sentiment but he refused to say much, adding the executive committee of the association would sit on Monday to discuss the matter.

St Edmund College teacher Malcom Tariang, who is going to contest the elections as Independent candidate, declined to comment on the government directive. He, however, said "in my opinion such an order was never issued before." Higher and Technical Education Director W Khyllep could not be reached for his comments.

SHILLONG: Seng Kynthei Bishnupur Kench's Trace and Seng Samla Bishnupur Kench's Trace Shillong have expressed deep concern over the multiplicity of crimes like murder, robbery, extortion etc., in and around Bishnupur area. "The recent murder of Anand Sharma is a clear case of weakness on the part of authorities to nab the culprits," the organisations said in a press release. They condemned such acts of crime and urged the police to expedite investigation to book the involved persons.

A woman, Dira Lyngkhoi of Chanmari Golfl Link, was injured when a local taxi she was traveling in collided with a Sumo at Sohrarim in the wee hours of Thursday. She was admitted to Shillong Civil Hospital for treatment.

Body of an unknown person was found at Lyngkyrding on Thursday. The persons seems to be a Khasi, police said.

One Sita Darjee of Harijan Colony was suspected to have been killed by her husband over some family matters, police said.

As a frequent traveler to the villages of Meghalaya you cannot miss the fun and games that marks an election year. Localities vie with each other to celebrate the ubiquitous 'youth week'. Candidates fall over each other to 'donate' money for these non-events marked by dance and gyrations to the latest Bollywood tunes and where kids are made to act like adults complete with garish make-up. Dipsomaniacs have a whale of a time enjoying free drinks at the expense of different candidates. The same guys make appearances at different camps on different days. Yet even such subterranean creatures with stinking breaths have to be entertained with a gleeful mirth that would otherwise not be tolerated at any other time.

This is the sum and substance of elections in Meghalaya. People talk, live and breathe politics. They discuss candidates and parties with an interest that even scholars would find amazing. The merits and demerits of each candidate are avidly discussed at funerals, marriages and meetings and even at the family dining table. Speculations about who is strong in which locality form the basis of common conversation. This is also the time when little known camp followers get their moments of glory by reporting about one candidate's activities to another. Of course they also extract their pound of flesh. Truly this is an extraordinary phenomenon.

Winter time is also marriage time. Candidates have to sometimes attend five marriages in a single day. I commiserate with them at having to eat five different meals at five different functions and more. Candidates must have the digestive system of a cow to gulp in a hurry and digest at leisure. Otherwise they would have developed acute gastritis. At funerals every candidate will make sure he attends the last rites down to the lowering of the casket into the grave. Gosh! It really makes you sick to watch the vote-catching shenanigans. And yet these preoccupations of an MLA are termed as constituency management techniques.

Thanks to the State Election Commissioner, MLAs now have to deploy someone to erase their names from public utilities. This is a brilliant step in the right direction. MLAs are using their local area development schemes as a progress report card as if being a legislator boils down to only implementing MLA schemes. Surely this is not the end all and be all of a legislator's duties. It is, in fact, the degeneration of parliamentary practices. Legislation has taken a back seat and Meghalaya has had no landmark legislation worth mentioning in the last thirty six years. We have produced a whole lot of constituency leaders and street smart politicians but no statesmen to lead the State. Perhaps, Meghalaya has no more space for statesmen. Perhaps, the character of its people has eroded to the extent that like drug addicts, they want instant gratification. When people are addicted to money, all the values of a society stand compromised.

It is this addiction that has spawned a culture of corruption. Since politicians are the last people to do anything pro-bono or to give anything away gratis, they have now decided to use fake notes to pay the voters. At least three people are in police custody for allegedly circulating fake currency. In Jaintia Hills this writer learnt that several people have been duped with counterfeit notes. They really do not know which candidate they got them from because they take money from all candidates. Curiously this fake money case seems to have died a natural death with police claiming they are in the process of investigation and somehow wary about giving out more information.

At a village near Pynursla a meat vendor looked at a 1000 rupee note with great suspicion. He scanned the note with all the native wisdom at his command before deciding that it was genuine currency. When this writer asked him why he was extra careful about accepting an apparently genuine note procured from a bank he replied back sharply that there were too many fake notes floating around. People in his village, he said, have suddenly been using Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes as legal tender for a kilogram of meat. The butcher had apparently been cheated once too often. Hence the extra caution. That candidates have stooped so low as to use fake money to buy votes, informs us of the venality of politics in Meghalaya.

Coming to party manifestoes and election promises, neither the candidates nor the electorate believes in them. They are not articles of faith but simply a formality that must be completed. No wonder, people are not asking why political parties have not come out with their manifestoes even at this juncture, but have started campaigning in right earnest. The right thing to do would have been to start the campaign trail with the manifesto in hand. The NCP is the only party that has prepared a manifesto after conducting a series of consultations and finding out what people actually want to be included in it. To that extent it is a peoples' manifesto. This was released over a month ago by Mr PA Sangma. The Congress is expected to release its manifesto only today in the presence of Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi.

The electorate in Meghalaya has never placed much faith in political parties. They have always voted for personalities. This makes it impossible for any single party to obtain an absolute majority. As a result we have treacherous coalitions with ideologically divergent positions sitting together and unable to agree on anything except on the common ideology of making money. Even the meaning of a cabinet is redefined in Meghalaya. Each minister does what he wants and only seeks the cabinet's endorsement. There is no such thing as a cabinet note for formal discussion on issues that affect the long term interests of the State such as the recent power deals. Collective responsibility is completely absent. After the power deals were hurriedly signed by Power Minister, Dr Mukul Sangma, the coalition partners cried fowl and feigned ignorance about the deals. Now all those who shared the Congress bed are out on the streets condemning the party of unbridled corruption. It is a bizarre situation but not uncommon in Meghalaya where rhetoric still wins elections.

The vacuum created by the absence of a responsible civil society to critique manifestoes and place such critiques on the public domain for intelligent debate has only worsened the situation. In this respect the academia must be blamed for remaining a mute bystander to the degeneration of political values in Meghalaya. Seldom has one heard of the academia seriously engaging the Government in policy making. Nor do we have NGOs who are involved in capacity building of communities so they can be directly involved in policy advocacy.

Truly Meghalaya has a long way to go. And elections are not the solution to our problems! They are at the root of all our predicaments.

Sir,

Salil Gewali's letter 'Literate satans' (ST, Feb 5) makes interesting reading. According to the author, Indian education system has produced 'literate satans'. He wants the education policy makers to give emphasis on teaching of human values to the students. The question is: Will such teaching reduce the production of 'literate satans'? My answer is: No.

Ideally, our educational system should be such that every person who is educated would do what is good and avoid what is evil. But that does not and cannot happen. Reason? Irrespective of whether a person is educated or uneducated, he or she invariably knows exactly what is evil and yet he or she commits it over and over again to his or her own ruin and that of others! That happens because of the deep corruption of man's inward nature. Man is inwardly bound to sin, is feathered with evil tendencies. His rebellion against the good ways of God does not originate from his head or intellect but from his very heart.

Look at the colleges! Are the young men studying there free from vices and follies? How often parents, in fear and apprehension, tremble over their sons and daughters, until their time of study is over. Why? Is it the lack of knowledge? Certainly not.

What about our high and educated society in general? Do its members live up to the light of their superior knowledge? Are they free from carnality, from sinful passions, from unrighteousness, from cold selfishness, from love of money and other sins? They are not because their heart is evil and education could not and will never be able to change it. Education might produce a difference in outward forms and manners but cannot bring about regeneration in the inner moral character. It is here that we need God to come to our rescue and help.

Yours etc.,
Omar Luther King
Delhi-34
Via e-mail

Sir,

Apropos to the news item "Over Staffed MUDA in crash crunch " (ST, Feb 7), it may also be brought to the notice of the public that in the similar fashion the Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs and State Sports Council are also overstaffed by the casual employees appointed by different Ministers. Since the period when Mr PT Sawkmie was the Sports Minister to till recently when Mr Paul Lyngdoh became the sports minister, casual employees in hundreds were appointed at the behest of the politicians without considering the actual requirement. This was done only to fulfill their pre-election promises. This has brought the Sports Department and the

State Sports Council at a saturation point where the fear of not being able to pay the salaries even to the regular staff is lurking in the horizon.

This has affected the financial position of the Department thereby resulting in inability to help the sports persons, improve overall sports scenario, infrastructure development etc. The recent dismal performance by the Meghalaya team in the NE Games 2008 held in Guwahati is also one of the outcomes of diverting the sports development fund towards paying the salaries to the employees of the overstaffed departments.

Another dangerous trend of the Sports Department is to let out the sports infrastructures to organise non-sporting events like rock concerts, army shows etc depriving the sports persons from practicing in the said infrastructures which were promised to be kept isolated only for sports events by the previous ministers many a times.

Yours etc.,
P.A. Chynw
M.K. Kongor
S. Lynshing.

Agartala: The war of words has picked up in Tripura with ruling CPI-M and Congress blaming each other on different issues including nexus between political leaders and militants.

While Congress says it will lodge a complaint against CPI (M) top gun Prakash Karat for accusing former Prime Minister Rajib Gandhi of helping outlawed group Tripura National Volunteers (TNV), the ruling party on Thursday refuted the charge made by Congress general secretary Prithviraj Chavan.

Prakash Karat did not said the then Prime Minister late Rajib Gandhi had encouraged outlawed groups in Tripura, CPI (M) spokesman Goutam Das told reporters here on Thursday.

He claimed that Chief Minister Manik Sarkar in a public rally here on February 3 had alleged that the former Prime Minister had used the outlawed TNV to topple the Left Front government in 1988.

"How, one Union Minister can pass a comment on an important issue on the basis of newspaper reports," Das said.

It was well known that the former Prime Minister had used the TNV to collapse the Left Front Government in 1988 Assembly elections, he added.

The ruling party also alleged that Congress and INPT leaders had meetings with one outlawed group of Tripura in Shillong, Aizwal and Guwahati to chalk out the plan for the coming elections.

"Central intelligence agencies have definite information about the meetings between rebel leaders and Congress-INPT leaders," Das said.

He also criticized Congress for its "step-motherly attitude" towards Tripura and said the country's strongest party did nothing for overall development of the backward state.

"What we had achieved so far only because of former Prime Minister HD Devegowda and not because of Congress-led successive governments at the Centre," he said.

Agartala: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked the Tripura administration to provide adequate security to the campaigners of all the political parties contesting in the Assembly elections to be held on February 23.

According to the state poll panel, as many as 95 star campaigners of the ruling Left Front, Opposition Congress and Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT), Trinamool Congress and BJP would be campaigning for the elections during the next couple of weeks.

''We asked the administration to ensure adequate security for the leaders and help them hold peaceful campaigns,'' Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Dr GSG Ayyanger said here on Thursday adding central paramilitary forces had started arriving in the state.

He said the Congress had submitted the list of 40 leaders, including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, party leader Rahul Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Cabinet colleagues Pranab Mukherjee, PR Dasmunsi, Ambika Soni, Santosh Mohan Deb and other leaders of the AICC.

The list also included four Chief Ministers - Ghulam Nabi Azad (Jammu and Kashmir), Tarun Gagoi (Assam), Dorgi Gorung (Arunachal Pradesh) and O Ibobi Singh (Manipur), Dr Ayyanger informed.

The ruling Left Front had earlier submitted the list of 40 campaigners from West Bengal, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and New Delhi and CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat and politburo member Sitaram Yechury had already addressed two election rallies here while West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, CPI(M) West Bengal state unit secretary Biman Bose, two West Bengal Ministers - Sudharsan Roy Choudhury, Surya Kanta Mishra - along with others, would particiate in the next phase of the campaign, Left Front sources said.

Meanwhile, BJP president Rajnath Singh, MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, Sushma Swaraj, LK Advani and six other top leaders of the party would be joining the party's election campaign while Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was expected to hold rallies in different parts of the state during the next week. (UNI)

Guwahati: A bird-hit Kolkata-Guwahati Indian Airlines flight ( IC 229) with 89 passengers on broad had a close shave as both the tyres of the aircraft burst during an emergency landing at Guwahati airport at around 12-15 p.m. on Thursday.

The Airport Director, R Birajswamy informed that the right landing gear of the aircraft was hit by a bird as it was approaching Guwahati airport and the pilot immediately requested the air traffic control for an emergency landing facility within five minutes.

However, two tyres of the aircraft burst during the emergency landing much to the panic of the passengers who escaped unhurt.

The pilot informed the control tower of the emergency situation a little before 11.20 a.m. when it was scheduled to land and continued to hover over the airport for more than 45 minutes. The Airbus landed after 12 noon.

But no other flight could either take off or land for the next two hours as the bird-hit aircraft with punctured tyres got stuck up in the runway.

The airport authority was forced to reschedule departure and arrival of several flights during the two hours after the emergency landing of the I-A flight. The filght schedule was normalised towards late afternoon.

KOHIMA: Seeking to keep the Naga unification issue alive, the Nagaland Peoples front (NPF) on Thursday said if voted to power, it would act as an active facilitator to the on-going Naga peace process.

"Our first and foremost agenda is political solution of the Naga problem," party president Shurhozelie said.

The regional party, he said, would continue to play the role of a mediator to bring underground groups to the conference table for political dialogue.

Shurhozlie declared that the NPF would also bring to the notice of the Centre to take up with Myanmar government the fate of Nagas living there so that they could be brought under a single administrative setup with the rest of the Naga tribes of the north-eastern region.

Distributing tickets to 55 aspirants contesting the march 5 Assembly election, Shurhozelie said, "We do not want to count out our people in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur."

Shurhozelie highlighted the initiatives taken by the NPF-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government during its almost five-year rule for peaceful resolution of the Naga conflict.

Former Chief Minister and NPF leader Neiphiu Rio told party workers that the party would face the electorate on three main planks -- the Naga political issue, development and imposition of President's Rule in Nagaland.

"Ours is a issue-based politics so campaigns should be confined to what we have done during the last five years and what we are going to do for the people in future," Rio said.

He also asked party workers to strictly adhere to model code of conduct without indulging in character assassination of opponents during electioneering.

Rio asked the party workers to understand the emerging mantra of coalition politics at a time when even the left parties were talking about a third front, indicating that the Congress-led UPA might not come to power in the next general elections.

Giving the country-wide break up of Congress, BJP and regional parties in 28 states, Rio sought to send the message that NPF, the oldest regional party, could play a role in the fast changing equation of coalition politics. (PTI)

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said the project, which was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), would be completed by 2011-12. A sum of Rs 25 crore has been earmarked for the project during 2008-09.

''Electrification of the Barauni-Katihar-Guwahati section will facilitate running long-distance freight and passenger trains, including Rajdhani and Garib Rath Express, towards North-East end-to-end on electric traction,'' he told newspersons.

Electrification of this route would also contribute to the flexibility through continuity of traction and economic operation, he pointed out.

More importantly, it would offset requirement of imported crude and diesel, in addition to environmental benefits that would accrue, the minister said, adding that such a measure was essential to meet the anticipated increase in passenger and freight traffic by 2012.

He said the project, on its completion, would meet the requirements of transporting coal, iron and steel, cement and petroleum products on the western route and of foodgrains and fertilisers on the eastern route. Besides, it would impact on passenger movement in a positive manner, he added..

The electrification of this route is, in fact, part of the 1518-km-long railway link from Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh to Guwahati in Assam. This is an important infrastructural section for the development of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Manipur.

Mr Prasad said the first phase of the project -- electrification of Barabanki-Gorakhpur-Barauni section (709 km) -- had already been approved and work was on progress on this section. (UNI)