N A T I O N

Grand alliance on cards in AP 
Hyderabad, March 21
A grand alliance of the BJP, the TDP, the Lok Satta and the just launched Jana Sena Party of actor-turned-politician Pavan Kalyan appears to be a possibility for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh.

PC’s move shows Cong has conceded defeat: BJP
New Delhi, March 21
Taking potshots at the Congress, the rival BJP today claimed the decision of Finance Minister P Chidambaram to opt out of the Lok Sabha poll race indicated the state of affairs in the party as it was “running away from the contest”. 

6.5 quake jolts Andaman & Nicobar islands
New Delhi, March 21
The Andaman and Nicobar islands were jolted by an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale this evening but chances of tsunami are ruled out, the government said.

Grand alliance on cards in AP 
BJP, TDP, Lok Satta & Jana Sena Party may join hands

Hyderabad, March 21
A grand alliance of the BJP, the TDP, the Lok Satta and the just launched Jana Sena Party of actor-turned-politician Pavan Kalyan appears to be a possibility for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh.

The BJP and the TDP are already in talks to sew up an electoral alliance, while the former received a huge boost with Pavan endorsing the candidature of Narendra Modi for Prime Minister's post.

"There is a need for Narendra Modi to be Prime Minister at this juncture," Pavan, youngest brother of Union Minister and Congress leader Chiranjeevi, said after a meeting with the Gujarat Chief Minister in Ahmedabad this evening.

Lok Satta Party (LSP) of bureaucrat-turned-politician Jayaprakash Narayan announced his party is ready to consider "strategic alliances and tactical adjustments" with other parties without compromising on its core values.

Significantly, Narayan ruled out his party joining forces with the Congress, but named BJP specifically as a potential partner.

Though the talks between TDP and BJP have reportedly been stuck on seat-sharing, the two parties are expected to thrash out an understanding in the days to come, sources said.

In an apparent reference to the talks with TDP, BJP spokesman and MP Prakash Javadekar hoped the parties opposed to Congress would clinch an understanding soon.

"I welcome those who give suggestions, those who give the slogan 'Congress hatao desh bachao'. But, there must be a joint effort to do that. It cannot be an isolated, different effort. And to that end, yes, we are in dialogue with some of them.

"But, let me also remind that there is little time left. It cannot be an endless debate, endless talks. No way. Therefore, I hope in the national interest, all the parties and other forces, those who want 'Congress hatao desh bachao' will realise the importance of time and sort out issues so that we can jointly fight," he said in Vijayawada.

Javadekar today held a meeting with Telangana BJP leaders, a section of whom was reportedly reluctant initially for an alliance but now reportedly insisting on fighting a substantial number of seats. — PTI

Tactical adjustment

*n Lok Satta Party of bureaucrat-turned-politician Jayaprakash Narayan announced his party is ready to consider "strategic alliances and tactical adjustments" with other parties without compromising on its core values

* Though the talks between TDP and BJP have reportedly been stuck on seat-sharing, the two parties are expected to thrash out an understanding in the days to come

* The BJP received a huge boost with Pavan Kalyan, who recently launched Jana Sena Party, endorsing the candidature of Narendra Modi for prime minister's post.

PC’s move shows Cong has conceded defeat: BJP

New Delhi, March 21
Taking potshots at the Congress, the rival BJP today claimed the decision of Finance Minister P Chidambaram to opt out of the Lok Sabha poll race indicated the state of affairs in the party as it was “running away from the contest”.

“The person who served as the Finance Minister for seven out of 10 years is not even contesting. He is running away from the contest. He is not willing to face the voters to give answers as to what his achievements were,” BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said here.

Chidambaram’s decision to not contest was an important development that reflected the current mindset within the Congress, she said. “The Finance Minister is not even available for answers. They have no will to fight, they have actually conceded defeat,” she added.

Chidambaram has chosen not to contest the Lok Sabha elections and the Congress has now nominated his son Karti from his constituency of Sivaganga in Tamil Nadu. Sitharaman said the BJP had formed a grand alliance in Tamil Nadu that had scared many leaders in other parties.

Those who criticised NDA’s “India Shining” campaign used to say that a dream team of economists-Manmohan Singh, Montek Singh Ahluwalia and P Chidamabaram-would bring in a beautiful, inclusive India. That dream team, however, left the economy in doldrums, she said. — PTI 

6.5 quake jolts Andaman & Nicobar islands

New Delhi, March 21
The Andaman and Nicobar islands were jolted by an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale this evening but chances of tsunami are ruled out, the government said.

"An earthquake measuring 6.5 on richter scale occurred some 70 kms east of Indira Point at 7.11 pm today. "We do not see any threat of a Tsunami warning due to this. However, we have issued a general warning and have kept our system on high alert," said Shailesh Nayak, MoES Secretary. The Andaman Sea and southern part of Indian Ocean is prone to earthquakes, MoES officals said.

The 2004 earthquake, measuring close to 9 on the Richter scale, had triggered a massive tsunami across the Indian ocean region, affecting several countries. — PTI