Say Hello to Another
Scam
The raging corporate war over the introduction of limited mobility telephone services has turned political, with the Prime Minister's Office being charged with subverting the regulatory system and favouring a few business houses. An INDIA TODAY investigation looks at the conflict between the sanctimonious claims and the grim reality.

Ballot Boxwallahs
The approaching assembly elections have brought to life five states which are set to witness a stiff fight and whose results can have a big impact on all major parties. A profile of the prime contenders who could tilt the balance either way.

Fall From Grace
Despite a triple-digit growth in net profits of Infosys Technologies and Satyam Computers, the stock prices of the two companies have plunged. Is it the gloomy forecast for software companies that's hammering down the prices?

Unnatural Alliance
The CNG controversy has taken a new turn, with doubts being raised about the propriety of the Delhi Government's selection of Nugas as the sole supplier of the conversion kit.

The Doon Boom
The city that houses Doon School is now playing host to a whole array of new education barons--with big money and even bigger ambitions.

CAPLOOKS

Courting Cars

Delhi: In February, after the appointment of five new judges, the Delhi High Court requested the Delhi Government to sanction funds for the purchase of five Maruti Balenos. Only last year, all the 27 Delhi High Court judges had been allotted the luxurious Balenos, each costing around Rs 8 lakh. The Centre then asked the state Government to explain under which rule the vehicles had been purchased. The papers of that sanction could not be traced. That was enough to prompt the Delhi Government to tell the High Court that the new judges could only get Ambassadors.

Left Out Of Contention

Chennai: The Left has never got it right. At least not when it comes to reading the AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalitha's mind. Having tied up with the AIADMK, Left leaders find themselves being treated like domestics. First, Madam allotted them far less seats than they had demanded. Then she announced the constituencies where her party would contest without even bothering to consult them. A senior Left leader was so miffed that he called on TMC chief G.K. Moopanar to remind him of the glory days of the Third Front. Mum was the reply.

Political Search Party

Delhi: For a party that ruled the state of Delhi till 1998, the BJP is remarkably inert in the capital. The party hardly played an agitational role in the recent CNG crisis. Not surprising, because two of the BJP's former chief ministers have become the mainsprings behind NGOs. The Punjabi lobby runs the city-specific Vikas Mahasangh, founded by Madan Lal Khurana. His Jat rival, Sahib Singh Verma of Rashriya Swabhiman, is pursuing the more ambitious mission of rebuilding Duhei in earthquake-ravaged Kutch.

Royal 'Bihar' Tiger

Patna: The new attraction at the Sanjay Gandhi Zoological Park in Patna is Shwetraj, a white tiger. Laloo Prasad Yadav is so fond of Shwetraj that he is thinking of asking Rabri Devi, the chief minister, to revive plans to acquire the Patna Golf Club, adjacent to the park, to convert it into a tiger safari where "he would be able to roam freely".

MetroScape

Wealth Of Art
April 8 saw an unabashed get together of Mumbai's Who's Who when the annual Harmony Show, well known as "Tina Ambani's baby", celebrated its sixth showing at the Nehru Centre.
more...

Looking Glass

Bangalore Hotel:
Park.hotel

Mumbai Store:
Regent Watch and Jewellery Boutique

A war of words is on at the Jammu border where India is trying to build a fence to stop infiltration, much to Pakistan's dislike, reports
INDIA TODAY's Special Correspondent Ramesh Vinayak in Despatches.