Sonia emerging front runner

New Delhi, May 14 Even as the Congress readied itself to elect Sonia Gandhi as the leader of its parliamentary party here tomorrow, hectic confabulations among the secular forces with CPM’s Harkishen Singh Surjeet acting as the pivot in giving shape to a secular front gained momentum.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul Gandhi and daughter Priyanka Vadra meet party workers outside her residence in New Delhi on Friday. — Tribune photo by Mukesh Aggarwal

Graphic: Composition of the new Lok Sabha
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World: Italian press salutes Sonia’s triumph

Surjeet throws weight behind Cong chief
New Delhi, May 14
Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s accession as Prime Minister now appears to be almost certain with the Left virtually backing her candidature and having decided to hand over a letter of support to the President.
In video (28k, 56k)

Sonia willing to become PM
New Delhi, May 14
Breaking her silence on leading the new government, the Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, said today that she was willing to become the Prime Minister if the party’s allies wanted it.

Middle: Sonia of Urbasano
In video: Rahul Gandhi joins mother Sonia in Parliament.
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In video: Dynasty rules as Gen-Next politicians make their mark. (28k, 56k)

Mulayam to consult Left about joining government
New Delhi, May 14
The Samajwadi Party today authorised its President Mulayam Singh Yadav to take a decision on joining a “secular” government at the Centre in consultation with the Left parties.

Poor alliances led to NDA rout: Badal
New Delhi, May 14
The rout of the BJP-led NDA in the General Election was because of the poor alliances with the regional parties, the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, said here today.

Who are on Captain’s chopping block
Chandigarh, May 14
Tough times are ahead for Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. The poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections has made his position vulnerable. Deputy Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal has already raised the banner of revolt against him.

Punjab: Amarinder has tough tasks ahead

Neerja’s killer gets 160 years in solitary confinement Chandigarh, May 14 Zaid Hassan Abd Latif Safarini, the 42-year-old Jordanian involved in the killing of 21 innocent persons, including Chandigarh-born Neerja Bhanot, during an attempt to hijack a Pan Am aircraft at Karachi airport on September 5, 1986, has been sentenced to 160 years in solitary confinement by a US court. Brief chronology Chandigarh: Neerja Bhanot’s parents relieved