GUWAHATI, March 24: The State unit of the Congress has decided to project its president and the sitting Lok Sabha MP, Tarun Gogoi as the Chief Ministerial candidate in the run-up to the Assembly election in the State. Replying to a query from the newsmen during a press conference this morning, the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), Silvius Condpan said the Assam Pradesh Congress president, Gogoi would be the next Chief Minister if the party was voted to power in the forthcoming Assembly election. Earlier, addressing the press meet, the APCC president disclosed that the Congress...

GUWAHATI, March 24: With Assembly polls in Assam round the corner a clear picture of the political alignments is yet to emerge and the major parties are still holding discussions to come into understanding with smaller groups. Mentionably, West Bengal, the process of announcement of the names of the candidates is on and the ruling Left Front has already announced the names of its candidates, while in Assam, the partners of the ruling alliance are not sure whether to stick together or not. The Communist Party of India (CPI) is yet to announce its decision on whether to stay with the present...

IMPHAL, March 24: The working president of the Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) and Union Minister of State for Food Processing Thounaojam Chaoba was elected the new president of the party. A party election for the post of its president was held at Pujah Hall of Babupara, Imphal amidst tight security. Earlier, the election was scheduled to be held at the premises of State Guest House, Sanjenthong, Imphal. However, following a prohibitory order under Section 144 of CrPC by the Deputy Commissioner, Imphal West district, the venue for the election was shifted.

IMPHAL, March 24: Among the 2581 state government employees to be retrenched as part of downsizing the state government by the People's Front ministry led by Radhabinod Koijam are 548 regular employees of the Autonomous District Council (ADC). According to a reliable source, all the employees of the ADC were appointed as direct regular posts. Mention may be made here that all the 2581 state government employees were appointed as regular, die-in-harness, part-time, contract, ad hoc and casual employees during April 19, 1999 - March 31 this year. Besides the employees of the ADC, 280 employees...

IMPHAL, March 24: The Union Minister of State for food processing and hitherto Working President of Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP), Thounaojam Chaoba has been 'unanimously' elected as the party president as per the rules of the constitutions of the party by its members. This was announced by the State Returning Officer (SRO) of the party's organisational election, T Ibochouba at a jam-packed delegate session of the party held at the Durga Puja hall of Babupara here this morning. The Returning Officer also announced the names of members of party delegation and one president each of the...