The Congress suffered yet another setback in Jammu and Kashmir, when former Union home minister Mufti Mohammad Sayed resigned from the primary membership of the party on Sunday. Sayed announced that he and other like-minded people in J&K would soon form a regional party to defeat the ruling National Conference, which he said, had ceased to be a pro-people party.

The name of the new party would be announced on July 28 during a one-day conclave here, he said.

Chautala to seek trust vote on July 27

A special session of Haryana Vidhan Sabha has been called on July 27 for chief minister Om Parkash Chautala to seek the vote of confidence. Since the session has been called at a short notice, the members have been informed telegraphically instead of summons, Sumit Kumar, secretary, Vidhan Sabha, told reporters on Sunday. Chautala said his party, BJP and Haryana Vikas Party (HVP-D) will jointly contest the coming Lok Sabha polls in thestate.

BSP rules out alliance in UP

Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati on Sunday ruled out alliance with any other party in Uttar Pradesh but said the BSP was not averse to reach an electoral understanding with regional parties in other states. Mayawati told newspersons that it would take few weeks to announce the exact number of seats her party would contest at the national level. However, party sources indicated that the figure would be around 200. Party electioneering in Uttar Pradesh began on July 7.

BJD says no to merger with any political outfit

Putting to rest all speculations, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Sunday categorically ruled out the merger of the party with any other political outfit. In a statement, BJD secretary general Prasanna Acharya said the party formed two years back to fulfil the dream of veteran departed leader Biju Patnaik to build a new Orissa, would maintain its own identity.

Deve Gowda faction for dismissal of Karnataka ministry

The Deve Gowdafaction of the Janata Dal on Sunday demanded dismissal of the JH Patel ministry in Karnataka and imposition of the President's rule even as its supporters allegedly attacked the rival group's Karnataka unit President, C Byre Gowda, when he tried to enter the party office. Byre Gowda, a loyalist of the chief minister J H Patel who is with the Sharad Yadav camp, suffered laceration on his left hand in a scuffle at the gate, which has been taken over by the supporters of the deve gowda faction since the party split.