NEW DELHI, March 30: Assam Government has scaled down its plea for a three-phase election and instead, now wants a two-phase poll in the State to ensure adequate deployment of security forces during the polls. The state government's views were conveyed to the Chief Election Commissioner, M S Gill by the Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta here this morning. The Chief Minister's meeting with the CEC came, even as the Assam Congress here yesterday submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission of India (EC) alleging gross violation of code of conduct by the state government. Meanwhile...

GUWAHATI, March 30: The State Samajwadi Party (SP) has closed its door for the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) saying there is no question of forging an alliance with a gaddar (betrayer) party. Addressing a press conference here today, national secretary, north-zone of SP, Mahabir Singh said that instead of forging an alliance with the AGP, the party will fight alone in the coming Assembly election. Giving the rationale behind the party's' disappointment with the AGP, Singh further said that it has started losing political base due to wrong policies. "As SP's performance is gradually increasing it...

NEW DELHI, March 30: All speculations were today set to rest as the new Bodo agreement involving the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) is likely to be signed only after the State Assembly polls. Negotiations henceforth would take the shape of tripartite talks involving the various Bodo groups, Government of India and Assam Government. The talks were put back on the rails at the meeting between the Union Home Minister, LK Advani and the BLT leadership represented by vice chairman, Kamal Muchahary and publicity secretary, Mainao Doimary. At the meeting, the Union Government agreed to expedite the...

AIZAWL, March 30: Police on Friday cordoned off both sides of a road in front of the Mizoram Assembly as a precautionary measure to prevent Opposition party activists from creating law and order problems near the Assembly during the ongoing budget session, reports PTI. Aizawl District Superintendent of Police, Zorammawia told PTI that they were closely watching the law and order situation as it might worsen with the Opposition allegation of corruption against State Chief Minister Zoramthanga. The Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) on Friday intended to put up posters in the capital city...

IMPHAL, March 29: Three persons, including two jawans, were killed and two others injured in a bomb explosion by militants in Manipur today although the state government extended the existing unilateral ceasefire to insurgent outfits for one more month from April 1, reports PTI. Official sources said two jawans of the 15th Jat regiment were killed on the spot and two others seriously injured when a powerful bomb, planted by militants, went off at Ichum Lairembi area, about 23 km north of here this morning. A few minutes after the explosion, armed militants opened fire from nearby Pheidinga...