SHILLONG, March 7— The ‘so-called crisis’ in the Meghalaya ministry blew over today with UDP Legislature Party leader Dr Donkupar Roy being appointed the Deputy Chief Minister besides being given the plum portfolio of Finance as a bonus. Earlier this morning, a delegation of the UDP, which is the main ally of the Congress in the four day-old Meghalaya Democratic Allies coalition ministry met the Chief Minister D D Lapang and expressed their dissatisfaction over the distribution of portfolios to the UDP members.

GUWAHATI, March 6— The Chief Minister, Sri Tarun Gogoi today announced that he would be keen to visit any country to initiate dialogue with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) if he is acceptable to both the Central Government and the militant outfit. Replying to the discussion on the cut motions on the supplementary demand for grant for the Police department, Sri Gogoi said in the State Assembly that the Mizoram Chief Minister went to foreign countries to meet the NSCN leaders as he is acceptable to both the Centre and the militant. “If I am acceptable to both the concerned parties, I...

KOHIMA, March 6 — A 28-member Democratic Alliance of Nagaland Ministry headed by Neiphiu Rio was today sworn in Nagaland, bringing to office the first non-Congress dispensation in the state in a decade, reports PTI. Of the ministers, 22 were of cabinet rank and six of state whose portfolios would be announced very soon, the Chief Minister said. He hinted there could be further expansion “as and when required”.

The DAN, a conglomerate of five regional and non-Congress political parties, enjoys a strength of 38 in the 60-member house with support of four independents. All DAN constituents, the...

GUWAHATI, March 6 — In what should sound as a very welcome development to prospective investors, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has evinced keen interest to finance viable and feasible projects in the State and the North-east. “The North-east has the scope to develop and do well in different fields, and especially in the power sector, its potential is immense and we will definitely welcome any proposal for consideration, IFC Country Manager Hafeezuddin Ahmad who is based at Dhaka, told The Assam Tribune here today.

“We have, in fact, received quite a few proposals so far out of...

AIZAWL, March 6 — Save Mizoram Committee (SMC), comprising political parties in the State and all the major non-governmental organisations has urged Election Commission consultant K J Rao to respect the wishes of the people and not change the boundaries of the 40 Assembly constituencies, reports PTI.

The committee told Rao that the revised working paper drafted by the Delimitation Commission was not acceptable to the people of Mizoram and the delimitation of constituencies should not be implemented before the State Assembly polls scheduled to be held late this year.

“If the revised working...