Mahajot magnet draws 8 Cong. MLAs to Trinamool
The Trinamool Congress chief and Railway Minister, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, dealt body blow to the Congress in West Bengal today as she weaned away eleven senior functionaries - eight MLAs and three All-India Congress Committee members.

Cong. hardens stand
The Congress has hardened its stance against the idea of a `mahajot' (grand alliance) following reports that eight MLAs, including three AICC members, had decided to leave the party to join the Trinamool Congress.

States were consulted: Shourie
The Disinvestment Minister, Mr. Arun Shourie, today decried the Chhatisgarh Chief Minister, Mr. Ajit Jogi's approach to the BALCO sale as striking at the heart of the federal principle of government.

Militants storm Army camp
In yet another fidayeen (suicide) attack by the Lashkar-e-Taiba, four Army personnel and two militants were killed and four Army men injured, while a district commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad was killed in an encounter with the security forces.

Demolition in progress: Taliban
Taliban officials said today Afghanistan's ancient Bamiyan Buddhas were nearly destroyed and ruled out any hope for their preservation ahead of talks with a special United Nations envoy.

Tremors in Gujarat, N.E.
Ahmedabad and most other parts of Gujarat was again hit by a tremor measuring five on the Richter scale today. The tremor lasted for only a few seconds but those who felt the jerk rushed out of their buildings in panic.

Vajpayee to skip Holi
The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, has decided not to celebrate Holi this year. The loss of lives and the large-scale destruction in the Gujarat earthquake has led to this decision, his officials indicated today.

IT notice to bookies
Income Tax authorities almost completed issuing notices to all the bookies involved in the match-fixing scandal including the south Delhi-based jeweller, Mukesh Gupta.

Inflation rate dips
The inflation rate fell marginally ending February 17, despite costlier food articles.

Accused in Ghising's ambush arrested
Saran Dewan, prime accused, in the attack on the GNLF president, Mr. Subhas Ghising, and his associate were arrested today while the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr. Buddhadev Bhattacharjee, said that a breakthrough in the case was expected in a day or two.