Samajwadi party president Mulayam Singh Yadav on Friday formally snapped ties with Laloo Prasad Yadav-led RJD saying their coalition-Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha (RLM)-was "irrelevant". After its impressive show in the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh, SP's priority now was to build a strong base in Bihar for the assembly polls due in march next year, he said. He claimed that people of Bihar, particularly minorities, were now looking towards SP which alone, he said, was "strong enough" to be an alternative to BJP in the state. "Those who joined hands with Congress have ultimately perished... Parties having understanding with either Congress or BJP can't be with us," he told reporters in Patna on his party's relations with RJD. Stating that RLM had become "irrelevant" after RJD decided to align with Congress, Yadav said SP was firm on maintaining "equidistance" from both BJP and Congress.

Jaya, aide directed to appear in court

A metropolitan magistrate on Friday directed all the four accused in the auditor assault case, including AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha and her close friend Sasikala, to be present in the court on December 1 to receive copies of the chargesheet. The directive was issued by the 18th metropolitan magistrate Justin George. Sasikala's nephew Mahadevan and another accused Venkatesh were present in the court when the magistrate passed the directive.

Kanshi sees early end of NDA govt

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Kanshi Ram on Friday expressed doubt over the stability of Vajpayee-ld government at the Centre and claimed that the next Lok Sabha elections would be held by the end of next year. "It is not me who is doubting stability of Vajpayee government but leaders of coalition partners like Ram Krishna Hegde of Lok Shakti and Manohar Joshi of Shiv Sena are making such noises," Ram told reporters in Jaipur. The National Democratic Alliance government, with 24 coalition partners, is "more weaker" than any other government in the past and would not survive for long, he claimed.

Sonia talks of decentralisation

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday said the government should give greater thrust to economic reforms and decentralisation of decision making powers to achieve substantial and speedy economic growth in the country. "We can't achieve substantial economic growth without greater thrust on economic reforms and decentralisation of decision making powers," Sonia said in New Delhi. Stating that economic reforms were must to garner more resources for human development like drinking water, power and sanitation, the Congress president stressed that subsidised services in the country must be properly targetted so that the poor people get maximum benefit.