New Delhi, May 15 2009: Suspense mounted on who will form the next government on the eve of counting of votes as Congress and the BJP worked overtime to cobble up an alliance to reach the magic figure of 272.

"Everything is fluid," said NCP leader Praful Patel as political leaders confabulated with one-time allies, friends and foes hoping to bring them on to their side.

Congress leaders Pranab Mukherjee, A K Antony, Ahmad Patel and Digvijay Singh were huddled in talks till late last night.

New Delhi, May 14 2009: BJP today sought to junk TV exit polls that gave UPA an edge in the Lok Sabha elections and claimed that it would bag the maximum seats in the Lok Sabha polls and the NDA would emerge as the "most credible pre-poll alliance."

The party contended that the internal survey conducted by the party predicted a win for them.

"We have also done our internal survey which shows BJP emerging as the single largest party and the NDA as the most credible pre-poll alliance," BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here.

New Delhi, April 7 2009: Journalist Jarnail Singh who hurled a shoe at Home Minister P Chidambaram today at a press conference here was released by police after brief detention.

Station House Officer of Tughlaq Road Police station Anil Kumar Yadav told reporters that the scribe has been freed for the time being.

"No case has been registered against him. He has regretted his action," the official said, adding that the journalist was questioned for his action and then he was released.

New Delhi, April 7 2009: A Sikh journalist today hurled a shoe at Home Minister P Chidambaram protesting against CBI's clean chit to senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler accused in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, but it missed the target.

Chidambaram, who was addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, was surprised when suddenly Jarnail Singh, journalist from a Hindi daily, flung the shoe and an alert Home Minister made a quick movement to see it pass by him.

April 2 2009: Actor Sanjay Dutt appointed Samajwadi Party National General Secretary.

With the second edition of the IPL now scheduled in South Africa, not just the cricketers, but also the entire IPL paraphernalia, including the sponsors, franchisees, cheerleaders, actors, celebrities and performers, is likely not to vote… Add to this a large chunk of enthusiastic Indians who will land up in South Africa at a time when their country needs them to decide the fate of their country...

New Delhi, March 26 2009: Not satisfied with amendments made in the law to deal with terrorism, Rajnath Singh, Santosh K Joy and Ajay Kaul of BJP have said that if voted to power, it will enact a tough law on the pattern of erstwhile POTA and have a comprehensive action plan to tackle the scourge.

BJP President Rajnath Singh said that along with the laws, there is a need for "strong will" to deal with terrorism and only a government headed by L K Advani can have it.

New Delhi, March 27 2009: BJP candidate Varun Gandhi is likely to undergo a court arrest in Pilibhit tomorrow where an FIR has been lodged against him for making inflammatory speeches, party sources said today. The move comes after the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday dismissed his plea for quashing the FIR against him.

Mumbai, March 27 2009: Gangster-turned-politican Arun Gawli, who has been arrested in connection with a murder and extortion case, will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from North Central Mumbai constituency.

Gawli will be contesting from the Akhil Bhartiya Sena (ABS), which was founded by him, Gawli's daughter Geeta Gawli told reporters here today.

"He will contest the LS election on his own party ticket and has no relation with Bahujan Samaj Party," Geeta said.

Mumbai, March 27 2009: Daughter of slain BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, Poonam's surprise visit to MNS chief Raj Thackeray at his residence in central Mumbai today fuelled speculations in the political circles about her next move.

"I met Raj Thackeray to wish him for 'Gudhi Padawa' (Hindu new year) and the visit has nothing to do with politics," Poonam, who has been denied Lok Sabha ticket from Mumbai North-East, told reporters after having lunch with him.