M A I N   N E W S

India votes out NDA
Cong to stake claim to form next govt

New Delhi, May 13
The Congress would stake its claim today to form the next government led by it at the Centre.

"Of course, we are going to stake our claim today to form the next government. It will be a Congress-led government," senior party leader and political secretary to Congress President, Ahmed Patel, told reporters here.

Asked if Sonia Gandhi would be the leader of the Congress-led secular front, Patel said she would be meeting with party allies to discuss the matter. — PTI

Vajpayee resigns

New Delhi, May 13
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Thursday met President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to hand over his resignation.

He drove to Rashtrapati Bhavan after a Cabinet meeting to give in his papers.

President's Press Secretary says Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's resignation was accepted and he was asked to remain until new government is formed. — PTI

BJP leads in Karnataka

Bangalore, May 13
The Bharatiya Janata Party appeared set to sweep Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka with its nominees maintaining comfortable leads in 16 constituencies, giving a jolt to the ruling Congress.

Continuing its dominance in coastal and northern belts, the BJP established leads in Mangalore, Udupi, Kanara, Dharwad South, Dharwad North, Belgaum, Chikkodi, Bagalkot and Bijpaur, besides making inroads in Kolar and Mysore.

In the 1999 elections, the BJP had won seven seats.

The ruling Congress, struggling under the perceived anti-incumbency factor, is leading in nine constituencies, yielding much of its bastion to the BJP and the Janata Dal (S). The Congress, which had 17 seats in its kitty in 1999, is facing its worst ever reverse in parliamentary polls in the state. — PTI