CPP Meeting
Time-bound targets for poll promises
Manmohan promises reforms, jobs & investment
New Delhi, May 19
Manmohan Singh will be a tough taskmaster for his would-be Cabinet. Addressing a Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) meeting this morning, he said he would ask every minister to set time-bound targets for implementation of election promises of the Congress and policies of each ministry.
Manmohan Singh after the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting at Central Hall of the Parliament House in New Delhi on Tuesday. — PTI

Kaypee set to get berth in Cabinet
New Delhi, May 19
In what is a changed scenario after the Congress got a comfortable number of MPs, Punjab, as of now, is likely to get just two ministerial berths. At present, there are three ministers in the “Punjab quota” and all are from the Rajya Sabha. Sources said the party high command was keen on giving representation to elected MPs from the Lok Sabha.

Dy Speaker’s post likely to be offered
to JD(U)
New Delhi, May 19
Although the Congress-led UPA has more than sufficient numbers on its side, the grand old party has not abandoned its plans of reaching out to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and is likely to offer the Lok Sabha deputy speaker’s post to his party, the Janata Dal (U), as part of this plan.

A dream House, finally
Highest number of women MPs since Independence
New Delhi, May 19
The 15th Lok Sabha has all the ingredients for a perfect House. It has a large number of young and old members on the one hand, heavyweights and novices on the other. Besides, it has a fine line-up of MPs on both sides of the political fence, strong enough to promise an eye-turner of a session.

EMPOWERED: Congress debutant MPs, (from left), Jyoti Mirdha, Shruti and Mausam Benazir Noor after the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting at Parliament House in New Delhi on Tuesday. — PTI

Maya, Mulayam, Lalu fall in line
New Delhi/Lucknow, May 19
It did not rain, it poured. Letters of support rained on UPA today from the constituents of the Third and the Fourth Front, both formations disintegrating before the formation of the new government. There was a mad scramble among parties to offer unconditional support to the UPA.

Editorials: Advani stays put
With or without Karat?

Punjab scorched by heat wave Bathinda/Chandigarh, May 19 Bathinda and adjoining areas continued to sizzle on Tuesday even as a smart shower in several places in Punjab, Chandigarh and adjoining areas provided temporary relief from the prevailing heat-wave. It did not rain in Bathinda, which recorded a new high of 46.2 degrees Celsius today, nearly five degrees higher than normal.