Battle of ballot moves closer home, spotlight on North
* Phase 3 11 cr voters, 91 segments
* Haryana, Delhi take centrestage
New Delhi, April 9
After two rounds of voting to elect members of the 16th Lok Sabha that began in the North-East this week, focus now shifts to the rest of the country, including the Hindi heartland, with nearly 11 crore voters in 91 segments spanning across 14 states and Union Territories set to exercise their right to franchise in the third phase of polling tomorrow.

Officials check EVMs at a distribution centre in Ghaziabad on Wednesday. AFP

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EC notice to Azam Khan over Kargil remarks
New Delhi, April 9
The Election Commission of India has served a notice to Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan following his controversial remarks in which he allegedly aimed to divide the Indian Army’s victory in the Kargil war on religious lines.

Nation page: Azam’s remarks outrage martyrs’ kin

Congress picks relatives of past, present U’khand CMs
New Delhi, April 9
The Congress today pulled off a mighty dynastic act in Uttarakhand by giving Lok Sabha tickets to relatives of both the incumbent and former state chief ministers.

Phase 2: Huge turnout in 4 NE states Impressive turnout in phase 2: Women queue up at a polling station in Itanagar on Wednesday. PTI

SC declines stay on Jat reservation
New Delhi, April 9
The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a plea to stay the Centre's poll-eve notification to include the Jat community in the OBC list for providing the benefits of reservation, saying there was, prima facie, material for taking the decision. "On going through the document, we are prima facie satisfied that it cannot be contended there is no material for taking the decision (to include Jats in OBC list)," a Bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam said.

Faridkot shocker for Cong: Danny in fray as Independent
In Sangrur, infighting leaves party nominee Vijay Inder Singla without much support
Faridkot/Sangrur April 9
Less than three weeks to go for voting in Punjab, the Congress is battling fresh dissent in Faridkot and Sangrur Lok Sabha segments. On the last day of filing of nomination papers on Wednesday, party leader Sukhwinder Singh Danny - who had contested and lost the Faridkot seat in 2009, and was denied the ticket this time -decided to contest as an Independent from this reserved constituency.

special to the tribune UK minister blames Press for fewer Indian students As UK education authorities ponder over the stunning decline in university applications from Indian students, a British minister has come to a conclusion that the blame lies with India’s “lively” press. “India has a very lively press…its press coverage has been surprisingly negative”, Education Minister David Willetts said in a recent interview to a magazine.