December 20, 1996

Rao quits as CPP leader

Mr. P. V. Narasimha Rao resigned as leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party bowing to the directive of the party President, Mr. Sitaram Kesri. The party heavyweights, Mr. Sharad Pawar, Mr. K. Vijayabhaskara Reddy and Mr. Rajesh Pilot, are likely to emerge contenders for the coveted post amidst speculation that Mr. Kesri might be the consensus choice to avoid bickerings. The former Home Minister, Mr. S. B. Chavan's name is also being mentioned in party circles as a “compromise” choice.

Re-imposition of President’s rule in UP quashed

The Allahabad High Court has quashed re-imposition of President’s rule in Uttar Pradesh, but kept the verdict suspended till December 26 to enable the Centre to take “necessary steps”, including challenging it in the Supreme Court. The chief standing counsel for the Central Government, Mr. U. K. Dhawan, sought suspension of the verdict for three weeks to enable the Government to take necessary steps, but the bench rejected it.

Jayalalitha shifts onus to Sasikala

“I was only a dormant partner and Sasikala was an active partner and did everything in the TANSI land deal,” the arrested former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms. J. Jayalalitha, told the State Crime Branch CID police investigating the case. During interrogation by the ASP, Mr. A. A. Jambukumaran, Ms. Jayalalitha admitted that the land belonging to the State-owned TANSI was purchased for ‘Jaya Publications and Sasi Enterprise’ in which she is a partner, but denied it was purchased at a lower price, thus causing pecuniary loss to the State exchequer.

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