Advani to lead BJP in poll: Vajpayee
Lucknow, May 1
In an attempt to put at rest a wave of speculation over a change of leadership in the BJP, sparked off by BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi’s statement yesterday, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said the next elections would be fought under Mr L.K. Advani’s leadership.

Naqvi explains statement to Advani
NDA MPs to decide on House boycott

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee lights a lamp to inaugurate the Executive Committee meeting of the BJP Mahila Morcha in Lucknow on Sunday. Also seen in the picture is the National President of Mahila Morcha Karuna Shukla. — PTI photo

Model nikahnama approved
Divorce detestable: Muslim Board
Bhopal, May 1
Asserting that Indian Muslims were “not bound to follow any other Muslim country”, All- India Muslim Personal Law Board today asked them to refrain from pronouncing ‘talaq’ thrice. The model ‘nikahnama’ cleared by the AIMPLB here asks Muslims to refrain from pronouncing triple ‘talaq’.

Mufti’s nephew shot at, critically wounded
Srinagar, May 1
Militants tonight shot at and seriously wounded a nephew of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Syed in Anantnag district, 45km from here, official sources said.

CBI faces severe staff crunch 32 pc
posts vacant
New Delhi, May 1
With 32 per cent of the overall sanctioned posts in the CBI lying vacant, the premier investigating agency is reeling under severe pressure and is resorting to “ad hoc” management to cope up with a plethora of cases, including high profile cases like Denel Guns scam, Defence Deal cases, Tehelka Expose and Telgi Stamp Paper scam.

LJP’s move to form govt in Bihar
Patna, May 1
After senior JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar abandoning his exercise of government formation in Bihar, the LJP today set in motion consultations for it by setting up a seven-member committee to elicit views of non-RJD and non-BJP parties on the contentious issue.

Sports car caught in bureaucratic jam Chandigarh, May 1 For Mr Nasafor Ali Sheikh and Ms Hasena Sheikh, a British couple, their sports car has been the cause of most of their travails in India. Subtle hints have been given to them to leave India without the costly car, a Toyota Celica, which was impounded by the Customs officials at Wagah check-post in Amritsar.                           Nasafor Ali Sheikh