M A I N   N E W S

Jogi takes over as Chhattisgarh CM

RAIPUR, Nov 1 (UNI) — Even as Mr Ajit Jogi assumed charge as the first Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, the main opposition party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, is yet to finalise the leader of its legislature party.

It has not even held preliminary discussions on the issue but three names are doing the rounds for the Leader of the Opposition. They are Mr Birjmohan Agrawal, Mr Nand Kumar Sai and Mr Mohesh Tiwari, party sources said here today.

Another senior leader eyeing the post is Rajya Sabha member Lakhiram Agrawal, who earlier was in charge of party in Madhya Pradesh.

The sources said others being considered for the top party post were former state Minister Virendra Pandey and Rajya Sabha member Dilip Singh Judeo.

The BJP has 36 MLAS in the 90-member Chhattisgarh Assembly.

NEW DELHI (PTI): Union Home Ministry on Wednesday published a notification on the creation of the new state of Chhattisgarh comprising 16 districts carved out of Madhya Pradesh, an official spokesman said.

Besides Raipur, the capital, the other districts of the state notified are Bastar, Bilaspur, Dantewada, Dhamtari, Durg, Janjgir-Champa, Jashpur, Kanker, Kawardha, Korba, Koriya, Mahasamund, Raigarh, Rajnandgaon and Surguja.

President K.R. Narayanan had given assent to the Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000, on August 25 after Parliament had passed it during the last monsoon session.

The Home Ministry had coordinated matters relating to creation of Chhattisgarh including its Budget, the new state’s account with the Reserve Bank of India and posting of IAS, IPS and other civil services officers, besides identifying and renovating key official buildings in a record time. 

Governor invites Buddhadev

CALCUTTA, Nov 1 (PTI) — West Bengal Governor Viren J Shah today invited Deputy Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattcharya to form the government following the resignation of the Chief Minister, Mr Jyoti Basu, on health grounds.

Mr Bhattacharya will be sworn in as the new Chief Minister along with his Council of Ministers on November 6, according to a Raj Bhavan press note here.

The Governor, presently holidaying in Darjeeling, will reach here on the day to administer the oaths.

Mr Bhattacharya has been invited to form the government following his election as the leader of the Left Front legislators on Saturday.