Allahabad mayor, Rita Bahuguna-Joshi, daughter of the late Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna, on Monday joined the Congress and was immediately given Lok Sabha ticket from the constituency to take on senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi.

HVP(D) merges into Lok Dal

The Om Prakash Chautala-led Indian National Lok Dal got a major boost with 14 legislators of the newly-floated Haryana Vikas Party (Democratic) deciding to formally merge with the party. Making the announcement in Chandigarh, HVP(D) president Kartarsingh Bhadana told newsmen that "out of the 17 party legislators, 14 had unanimously decided to merge into Chautala's INLD".

Mayawati to contest from Akbarpur

Bahujan Samaj Party vice-president Mayawati on Monday said she would contest Lok Sabha elections from Akbarpur seat instead of Basti (reserve) constituency as announced earlier. Speaking at a press conference in Lucknow, Mayawati said sitting MLA Lalmani Prasad would be the partynominee from Basti Lok sabha seat.

Dandavate to contest under PDF flag

Former Union finance minister Madhu Dandavate will be the Janata Dal (Secular) candidate in Rajapur constituency in maharashtra and will be contesting the polls under the progress democratic Front (PDF) banner. Dandavate, now with the JD(S), will be supported by Sharad Pawar-led NCP and other constituents of the Front, party spokesman BK Prasad said on Monday.

No secret pact with Cong: Rajagopal

BJP leader O Rajagopal on Monday denied his party having any `secret' understanding with the Congress for the coming Lok Sabha elections. "BJP and the Congress were the two main parties fighting each other at the national level and there was no question of any such understanding," he told reporters in Kochi.

NCP, Gowda group in talks

The NCP is negotiating with Janata Dal (S) for an alliance at national level for the Lok Sabha elections, NCP national secretary DP Tripathi said on Monday. Tripathi was in Bangalore tohold talks with JD(S) president HD Deve Gowda.