Two Winners And A Photo Finish
According to the INDIA TODAY-ORG-MARG opinion poll, there will be clear winners in two states, but a tight finish in a third.

The Last Rampage
To offset
J. Jayalalitha's slight edge, a pugnacious M. Karunanidhi gives it his all in what is his final electoral campaign.

The Sixth Sense
A mercurial Mamata Banerjee vs a dependable Buddhadev Bhattacharya. The mismatch leaves the Left Front with a premonition of victory.

Secular Stake
Even as the Church makes a blatant move to play a more political role in the state, the CPI(M) nominates a priest to woo minorities.

One Man Barmy
India's apex social sciences facilitating body is rocked by civil war: the chairman says he is being opposed by both RSS ideologues and leftist academics.

Changing Order
An ageing profile and a frustrated officer corps leads the force to consider VRS and restructuring.

Liquid Asset
The Rs 700-crore industry has attracted many players. Now, purity will decide who stays in business.

Board Of No Control
Tax authorities say the BCCI spends more money on meetings than on matches.

COVER STORY: ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS 2001

OPINION POLL: LEFT ROUT

Non-performance and anti-incumbency are the two overriding themes of this year's state poll. Traditionally wary of wild fluctuations, Kerala seems set to give the UDF a landslide victory. This, despite a sharp division among UDF voters over A.K. Antony and K. Karunakaran, and a 6 per cent vote for the BJP. Apart from Muslims and Christians who are traditionally anti-Left, the LDF could witness an erosion in its support among women voters. However, the LDF is likely to do well in Travancore, whereas the UDF has forged ahead in the Malabar and Kochi regions. In leadership terms, the popular appeal of LDF chief ministerial candidate V.S. Achuthanandan is negligible. Most LDF voters seem to think E.K. Nayanar is still the leader.

Performance Of State Government

Voting Pattern

Quality Of Life

Issues That Will Determine Voting

All figures in per cent. The responses may not add up to hundred because of multiple responses or elimination of insignificant categories.

MetroScape

Bond Free
The Savoy in Mussoorie must be the only hotel, apart from the Raffles in Singapore, to have a thing about writers. So, it was quite kismet when publisher Pramod Kapoor of Roli Books and author Namita Gokhale, who has an imprint with him, hosted the Ruskin Bond Festschrift—a Writers' Retreat in honour of that gentle Indian Roald Dahl, Ruskin Bond.
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Looking Glass

Delhi Cinema:
Canadian film festival

Delhi Art Fest:
Documenta

Bangalore Play:
Little Theatre