Falling Star
The uproar over the prime minister's threat to resign may be over with the NDA reaffirming its faith and promising to behave. But the incident has called into question Vajpayee's inclination to govern. Buffeted by crises, is he preparing for a last bow? A report.

The Political Bank
The never-dying saga of UTI pitches the Government and the Opposition into the usual slanging match. More skeletons fall out of the UTI cupboard proving that the institution has been misused by politicians of all hues.

Crouching Tiger
Discontent is brewing in the RSS and the VHP over the coalition-hampered BJP and a pacifist Vajpayee being unable to push through the saffron programme. How long will it be before they refuse to toe the BJP line?

The Centre
Cannot Hold
Prodded by the DMK to requisition the services of three IPS officers involved in the arrest of M. Karunanidhi, the NDA Government is dragged into a constitutional debate.

Unravelling The Plot
A week after Samajwadi MP Phoolan Devi was gunned down by masked murderers, all the men believed to be involved have been arrested. Yet many questions remain to be answered before the case is solved.

Space Invaders
Research reveals life on earth may have originated from outer space comets.

NEWSNOTES

West Bengal Congress President Pranab Mukherjee comments on his party's alliance with the Trinamool Congress.

Q. What is the present status of the Trinamool-Congress alliance?
A. It is confusing. After the elections Mamata Banerjee declared that she'd like to go it alone. If the majority partner says it would go it alone the alliance naturally cannot exist.

Q. Will the Congress try to woo Mamata back?
A. The Congress can't have any truck with a political outfit that associates with a communal party. The alliance was possible only after Mamata quit the NDA.

Q. Did she formally quit NDA?
A. She wrote a letter saying her party members leaving the Council of Ministers would "strengthen the hands of Atal Bihari Vajpayee". I don't know what it means. The fact remains that she resigned from the ministry, entered an alliance with us and fought the BJP in the elections.

Q. Which party has gained from the alliance?
A. In 1996, the undivided Congress got 81 seats. This year, the alliance got 96, including Trinamool's 60 and our 26. So both parties have gained.

Q. What is the future of non-Left parties in the state?
A. Much depends on Mamata. If she distances herself from the BJP we'd like to go with her, even as a minor partner.

—Sumit Mitra

MetroScape

Man Of Many Parts
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Delhi Exhibition: Journey-Yatra

Bangalore Restauran t: Ai Cavalli

Bangalore Ice-dems : Stem dance theatre

Bangalore Furniture : Cinnamon

Kolkata & Delhi Play: Macbeth

Mumbai Photography : R. Veeresh Babu

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Trial And Error