KOHIMA, Oct 16 ? Opposition Congress today retained two Assembly seats and lost one to Nagaland People?s Front (NPF), a major partner of the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN), in the bye-elections to three Assembly segments of the state held on October 13, reports PTI. With this, Congress? tally stands at 17 and NPF 35 in the 60-member Assembly.

Congress candidate and former Rajya Sabha member Apok Jamir defeated Alempokba of NPF by 3,967 votes in a straight contest to retain the prestigious Aonglenden constituency in Mokokchung district. Congress won this seat for the sixth time in...

GUWAHATI, Oct 16 ? Maharaj Kumari Binodini Devi of Manipur, Jahnu Barua of Assam (both for Art and Culture), and Dr Samir Bhattacharjee of Viswa Bharati University, and Dr Jitendra Nath Goswami of Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, (both for Science and Technology) have been named as recipients for the Kamal Kumari National Award for the years 2002 and 2003. Teesta Setalvad of Mumbai and Pranoy Roy of New Delhi have been chosen for the Siva Prasad Barooah National Award for 2002 and 2003. The presentation ceremony will be held at Pragjyoti, ITA Centre for Performing Arts, in the city at...

GUWAHATI, Oct 16 ? Following a directive from the Railway Board, the NF Railway (NFR) is planning to create an archive containing some of its most valuable documents. Tentative steps have already been taken in this regard with an initial survey being carried out of the photographs in possession of the railway authorities.

Speaking to this correspondent, the chief photographer of NFR, Kushal Kumar Rabha, said that his organisation was in possession of quite a few rare photographs, which should be preserved. Among the photographs are those, that document the launch and completion of significant...

ITANAGAR, Oct 16 ? Gegong Apang heading the Congress today took oath as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh for the seventh time, reports PTI. Apang (57) was the only person to be administered the oath of office by Governor V C Pande at the Raj Bhavan here.

The ceremony was attended by senior Congress leaders Mukut Mithi and L Wanglat, members of the CLP and independent MLAs but boycotted by the BJP, which had said Apang had betrayed the people of the State and the party by joining Congress at the 11th hour before the polls.

Later, speaking at a press conference, Apang did not give any...

MANESWAR, Oct 16 ? After keeping Manipur on the boil for the last three months and the Centre clueless, Apunba Lup spreading the agitation for withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Act (AFSPA), has agreed to come to Delhi for talks.

This piece of news has come as a major relief for Union Home, Shivraj Patil who almost lost his job for inept handling of the situation in Manipur and Assam besides Jammu and Kashmir. With the Left Parties openly gunning for his head and Congress Party too feeling nervous about the internal security scenario, Sri Patil was desperately looking for a breakthrough...