tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Friday, May 28, 1999
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RJD ticket for film actress
PATNA, May 27 (PTI) — RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav today offered party ticket to film actress Mamata Kulkarni for contesting Lok Sabha election from Patna. "Unhone (CBI people) mujshe meri poonchch-tachch ke dauran puchcha tha ki kya maine Mamata Kulkarni ko nachaya tha (they had during my interrogation asked me whether I had made Mamata Kulkarni dance)... and now I am ready to compensate that (dragging Kulkarni’s name in the controversy) by giving RJD ticket to her to contest," Mr Yadav told reporters. Mr Yadav made the offer after the CBI re-interrogated Chief Minister Rabri Devi in connection with a disproportionate assets case against him.

Ajit is RLD chief
NEW DELHI, May 27 (PTI) — Former Union Minister Ajit Singh was today elected unopposed as National president of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). Mr Ajit Singh was elected unopposed as the other contestant Mr P.S. Rautela withdrew his nomination papers on the last date, a party release said.

14 Myanmarese held
NEW DELHI, May 27 (PTI) — Fourteen suspected Myanmarese intruders have been apprehended along with a large wooden boat of Thai origin off the north Andaman islands, it was officially stated here today. A large wooden boat with 40 suspected poachers was intercepted by a naval ship on patrol off north Andaman islands on May 15, an official release said. On being challenged, the boat disappeared into one of the many shallow water creeks in the area, it said, adding a joint operation assisted by the local police was launched to the poachers.

PDP leader in hospital
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, May 27 (UNI) — People’s Democratic Party (PDP) acting Chairman K.E. Abdullah, who led a "padayatra" from Wayanad to Thiruvananthapuram demanding the release of party chief Abdul Nazar Madhani from jail, has been hospitalised since last evening following ill-health. Party general secretary T.A. Muhammed Bhilal told reporters here today that Mr Abdullah was admitted to a private hospital. Since 25 other members of the "padayatra" team were also under treatment at various hospitals due to adverse climatic conditions, the PDP had postponed its rally to be organised here on May 31.

New Nepal PM
KATHMANDU, May 27 (AFP) — King Birendra today appointed Nepali Congress (NC) parliamentary leader Krishna Prasad Bhattarai as the new Prime Minister, state-run radio announced. The Nepali Congress Central Working Committee and its newly elected MPs had unanimously elected Bhattarai as the new NC parliamentary party leader earlier in the day.